Sinegard Academy for the Wayward

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
Taking a deep breath he said, “Okay, I level with you guys if you promise to give me back that book. I am not really a fighting type but if we grapple without using any abilities I could use the exercise.” He knew that it was a long shot but he had to try something.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

M'Kael:
“Sweet, more threats of your awesome power. Win friends an influence people. It’s by Zig Zigler. You must have read it enough to memorize how to piss people off.”

“Rule one stop acting like your the big hot shot with God like powers. I don’t care about your ego, or your threats.”

“In fact,” he continued as the book dropped into Callo’s human shaped arms. “I don’t care about you at all. When he betrays you, remember my warning.”

“I trust the Dragon more than I do... whatever he is. Angus, my armor and shield are yours.” Without further explanation he stepped into the shadow of a bookcase and vanished.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
“Okay, wow, that was rude. How the hell did I threaten anyone? I tried to find the book on my own for two reasons. First being that I didn’t want to be the one to stop you guys from going the research that I knew you had to do. And two is that I was sure that any of you were truly willing or interested in helping me out,” he said. Then he gave Angus an awkward smile while he said, “I know that was stupid of me and I should have at least asked.”
He looked at Callo with pleading eyes. As he got up from the couch he said, “That book is quite dangerous if improperly used, but might be the only and best chance I have to recover all my lost memories. It might also have a way to deal with the issue you guys have with Nail-face. Only problem is that a lot of it is very hard to read because the the language barrier. I was actually surprised by Angus being able to read the name of it that’s on the cover.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Attack:
The ornate decorate window shattered as two objects hurtled through it. The sound of the glass shattering activating their contingency spells. Detonating in mid air with a sonic blast, silver shards exploded outwards, both had been coated in A Holy Balm and Sunlight spell

Hitting the ground even as glass from the window was raining down, the Clockwork man’s four arms rose up and he fired. Two shots from each weapon. The First Blasted Angela in the side with irradiated holy liquid silver, it’s second weapon fired Solid slugs of Adamantium twice at Angus. Cold Iron Flechette rounds ripped through the air towards Gem. As two rounds of Holy Concentrated Adamantium Pumped into Ravyn’s head and chest.

Grabbing Ravyn with two arms as she crumpled the clockwork attacker placed a scroll on her bloodied chest and they vanished with a word of recall.

***

Ripping the first paper from Ravyn’s chest the Clockwork replaced it with another and looked at the Sea Hag. “The rest of the gear is yours. I have what I require.”

“I calculate a sixty-two point seven percent probability you will succeed. The male Minotaur, female Priest, female Witch and two other unknowns – one of each gender - were present with my target. Attack now while they are disadvantage and you’re success chance increases by seven point one percent.”

Looking down it recited the words on the parchment on Ravyn’s bleeding chest and they vanished.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
As soon as the glass shattered he jumped over to cover Callo with his cloak as he exclaimed, “Shit!”
Just as his eyes adjusted to the extreme brightness he seen a clockwork person capture Ravyn.
As the light dimmed back down he quickly turned to check the others while asking Callo if she was alright. To him it seemed as if he was getting caught up in yet another fight.
“Looks like there’s a lot more going on here than I thought.”
He didn’t his best to try and help heal the others as he explained what he seen.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Angela, Angus, and Gem

The attack was so quick, and unexpected Angela had no time to react. Angela took two irradiated holy liquid silver bullets in the side. “UGHH” she grunted and was thrown back. Her injuries increased as the beams of light from the Sunlight spell hit her. Burning her exposed skin.

Angus was slightly faster. He saw the two solid slugs of Adamantium coming at him. He did not care, as his concern was Gem. He jumped with his arms outstretched like a wide receiver trying to catch a TD throw. One of the solid slug hit his shin, putting a dent and hole in his golden greave armor. Blood sprayed out. He was just able to reach the cold Iron Flechette rounds, knocking them off coarse. This action however caused damage to both his hands, as the rounds ripped through his armored gloves.

A protective magic force field snapped up, saving Gem’s life. It was also this same force field that Angus bounced off of, and crashed to the floor.

“Angus!” Gem yelled as went to him.

Callo was protect by Ramzaheed’s cloak, or else she too would have been hurt by the sunlight.

“I’m ok” Callo said standing back up. “Go help the others” she told Ramzaheed.

It was at that moment the library was suddenly filled with small rat sized flying bugs!

Sea Hag - 1 minute earlier

She almost laughed at the stupid clockwork man suggestion. The machine knew nothing about Hags. They are not lone creatures that jump out from behind a rock and attack the party head-on with a battle cry. They are planners and manipulators. And killing someone in a 12-second display of flashing claws and swords does nothing to further their goal, nor satiate their primal hunger for the long-term suffering they wish to bring down on the world.

When the clockwork thing was gone. Shelila called up her wriggler swarm. Just looking at these deeply unsettling creatures cause damage. In addition, some people are driven away from them in fear. Finally, their bite places an un-removable curse on the victim.

“Go to the library and bite all of them! Hurry” Shelila told her wriggler swarm. The swarm vanished reappearing in the library!

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
Thinking and moving as quickly as he could Ramzaheed pulled out his knife to eternal flame and used its energy to cast circle of protection around those who were injured. As soon as the circle was up he started swinging at the little beasts that were swarming the area.
“Fuck, fuck fuck,” he swore as he tried his best to fight them off.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Ravyn:
As the grenades came crashing through the window Ravyn jerked to her feet, her cloak covering the books as the attacker hit the ground in front of her. His weapon discharged in her chest missing her heart by 2.4 millimeters to the lower left, the second shot - a result of the weapons discharge and kick - taking her above the Right eyebrow.

Both rounds were inscribed with mystic runes and burned her skin with holy fire as they punched through bone and brain tissue. The attacker collected her even as she crumpled, plastering a parchment to her bloody breast. As energy ripped them from here to there.


M'Kael:
Dropping from the edge of the shadow lands M’Kael grabbed his chest as he hit the ground in the middle of the hallway. A squad of troopers watched as he faded in, falling like a gift from the Heavens’s. In seconds they had him bound with Thorned Shackles, separating him from his powers. And ensuring his compliance.

Dragging him toa cell they cared not what caused his appearance before them. Only that they would receive credit for his apprehension. A number of bodies had piled up due to his activities, and now that they had the murderer, they were keeping him secure.



Ravyn:
After leaving the Hag the Automaton teleported again, this time it deposited its prisoner on a mattress provided and shackled her to the wall. It’s task completed it left the room, closing the cell door as runes of warding flared, trapping her in a cell.

Looking at The Acolyte it bowed its head. “Task complete. Prisoner secured. Target witch. Target Priest. Target Minotaur engaged and delayed. Primary Target not engaged. Tertiary Target not identified. Reptilian form creature Species unknown. Male. Tertiary target not identified. Human Form female. Species not identified. Secondary target ‘Van’ Species Tiefling Not Engaged. Report complete.”

Moving towards a wall it took guard position and became motionless. Asleep? Dead? Recharge mode? Dormant?

Nodding the Acolyte looked through the small, barred window at the prisoner and smiled. His master would be very pleased indeed. Now all they needed was the Devil’s Coin and the Pirate’s knucklebones and they could perform the ritual. Afterwards maybe they’d give her as a gift to one of the Demon Lords. It didn’t matter which one. Maybe Asmodeus, he did like the way they tasted. Or he'd just rape her fora eon or two and season her soul with pain.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Gem

Gem saw the swarm of bugs. They were acting like angry bees! They were small, bouncing about, like fleas, clinging like fleas. They had a beetle-like hard outer shell, with their grasping limbs tucked under their bellies. There was a lot of them.

She made a quick decision and cast Hypnotic Pattern. A twisting pattern of colors weaved through the air inside the main Library reading room. The pattern appeared for a moment and then vanished. Most of the bug suddenly stopped moving and fell to the floor. They were alive but charmed by the spell, unable to do anything but stare into empty space.

Unfortunately for Gem, she had not stopped all of them, and two of them bit her in delight. Angus blooded armored hand ripped them from Gem’s body and smashed them with his hooved foot. What remained resembled an insect smeared on a windshield, split apart, and leaking clear fluid.

Callo

Leapt into the air and changed into a 125-foot ancient shadow dragon. It was a sight to see as she with one pump of her huge wings was flying in the reading room. The dragon exhales her fearsome, shadowy fire breath. Each wriggler in the area, moving or still was consumed by the shadow fire. The necrotic damage killed them all. But the horror did not end there. Undead shadow wrigglers rose up from the corpses.

Callo changed back to her human form as she landed on the top of a high bookcase.

“Kill all the wrigglers in this room” Callo commanded, her new army of undead shadow wrigglers. The shadow wriggles killed the last of the wrigglers a minute later.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
“Looks like you got yourself some handy pets, Callo,” Ramzaheed said as he noticed the shadow versions began to kill the regular ones that still clung onto his cloak even though they lost their teeth.
“I just wish we could have had a chance and ability to question at least one of them,” he said thinking out loud.
He then turned his attention to Angela, because he also noticed that Angus was getting attention from Gem.
He asked her, “ is there anything I can do to help you? I’m asking because it looks like you got hit by some of the shrapnel and it seems to be affecting you.” As he began to look over her wounds, he kindly stated, “I did get some emergency medical training while I was away.”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Angela

“Fucking losers” Angela grumbled as she got back up. Her wounds were not healing as usual. Ramzaheed watched as Angela used her finger to pull the liquid silver from her side. Then her wounds started to heal. “That asshole knew damage from holy water stopped my natural healing ability. It also hurts like hell.” Angela commented. Then she looked directly at Ramzaheed. “WHAT?” She asked Ramzaheed “Just looking at those things hurt my head. Those things were UGLY. I can’t imagine what talking to them might be like!!”

Gem and Angus

“Angus!” Gem gasped “There are dozens of thin and oozing legs sprouting from your stomach!”

“There are?” Angus said with shock, as he looked down at his armor. He saw nothing. “I don’t see any” he told Gem.

“Take off your armor” Gem said in a panic. She cast healing on Angus, which did repair his hands and shin. But the weird legs were still there, wriggling at her. “You have been infected!”

Angus pulled off his breast plate but still he could not see anything.

Van and Callo came over to help. As soon as Gem saw them, she screamed in terror. “Legs are coming out of your ears, and eyes!” she said to Van and Callo respectfully. Then Gem looked at everyone in the room, and they were all infected with the leg curse! Angela, Ramzaheed, everyone! Her paranoia hit her hard. “I have to get out of here!” She screamed as ran out of the reading room.

“Gem… wait” Angus yelled running after her. This only made Gem run faster.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
As he looked at the others in puzzlement he said, “I think she was bitten and might be hallucinating. Unfortunately I don’t know how to cure it or how we’ll convince her that that’s what is going on.”
He then turned to try to pick up and carry all the stuff Angus and Gem left behind.
“I don’t know about you guys but I don’t plan on being here when security arrives,” he said as he labored to fallow after Angus and Gem.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

M’Kael:
Chained to the floor, his wrists bound by enchanted steel M’Kael strained as energy arced searing his skin. Passing out from pain, his flesh boiled and smoldering like he’d been hit by lightening. The scorch marks radiated out from the manacles and followed the veins up to the elbows. It took a good while or the smoldering to stop, and during the time one of the guards looked through the door slit and smiled.

“Fry murderer,” The guard said as he chuckled. ”He’s never getting those off,” his partner said.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Back at the Professor’s House

It was a sad group that was sitting around the living room.

“We lost Ravyn, Gem, and Angus” Van pointed out

“We have a few good books about demons” Angela pointed out.

“Not much good, if we don’t have Ravyn or Gem” Callo countered. “Maybe this will help” She handed Ramzaheed the book he and Angus had found. “I guess we’ll have to trust you” She added.

As Ramzaheed looked at the book, Angela asked about their next step.

"Should we try to save Ravyn, or Gem first?" She asked

It was about that time, Angus came through the front door, carrying Gem over his shoulder. She was knocked out and her eyes were blind folded.

“I had to knock her out.” Angus informed everyone. “She is in bad shape. Fearful of everyone. Covering her eyes, I hope will help.” As the minotaur looked around the room, he only saw sad faces except Angela and Ramzaheed. "What is wrong?" He asked

“See everyone, things are getting better! We have Gem and Angus back” Angela said trying to cheer everyone up.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
When he heard Angus’ voice he looked up from the book he was about to read and gave him a quick smile, then went back to studying it. He was determined to learn all the secrets that the ancient book had to offer. A couple minutes later both he and the book began to float as a strange aura suddenly surrounded them both. His eyes turned black as an eerie unnatural voice began to speak through him.
It said, “He who dares read my tome be forewarned that this knowledge comes with a price. Love and knowledge once lost shall be found at the price of identity. All power is possible but not all power is granted. Some will seek to control, some will seek to manipulate, and others will seek to destroy. You can find what you seek but be warned that you might not like or enjoy the knowledge that you find. If you have any questions or doubts about the knowledge that you seek stop now and never open this tome again. You have been warned. What is your request? What do you seek to find? Choose now.”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Blood Magic

“Ramzaheed what in the 9 hells are you doing?” Angus complained “Blood magic is EVIL”

“Actually, the use of blood magic has been heavily stigmatized. Most magic schools publicly disavows the practice of blood magic despite its use among some of their mages. Always in secret, of course.

I have seen blood magic used to heal so it is not inherently evil. It is a tool like any other and that there is no harm in using it as long as it isn't used to hurt others and uses only one's own blood or that of a willing participant.” Angela countered

Van coughed and spoke “Nice words from a Vampire. You would not exist if it was not for Blood Magic”

“My point exactly. See how nice I’m” She replied with a smile.

“Perhaps there’s some truth to the idea that the real danger of blood magic isn’t that it draws its power from sacrifice, or that it tempts the greedy and ambitious into using the suffering of others to fuel their spells. Perhaps the danger is simply that we do not understand it, and that lack of understanding invites disaster even when our intentions are pure. --- Grand Wizard Krebin” Van quoted.

“You quoted Krebin! That was impressive!” Angela praised Van.

“I guess it is not evil, just be careful Ramzaheed” Angus told his friend

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
Black eyed Ramzaheed look directly at Angus and said, “I know not this Ramzaheed of which you speak oh pure of soul. But for your concern for your friend I will grant you one free question or request.”
In the back of Angis’ mind he heard Ramzaheed say, “Be careful that isn’t me. It’s the guardian of the book.”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Angus

Angus stared at Ramzaheed floating in the air. The book had somehow taken control of him. This was powerful. The book was powerful and important. Magic was not his strong suit, he was a minotaur and a fighter. Not your typical mage. Gem, Van, Ravyn, or even Angela would be more knowledge about this situation and what to ask for.

But something in the book’s voice told him, he needed to make this decision.

Angus remembered what the book had said “knowledge comes with a price” he knew that and it aligned to how blood magic worked. “… Love and knowledge once lost shall be found at the price of identity…” That sounded bad! Did the book take you identity away? “All power is possible but not all power is granted.” There were limits to what the book could do. Good to know. “Some will seek to control, some will seek to manipulate, and others will seek to destroy. You can find what you seek but be warned that you might not like or enjoy the knowledge that you find.” The Knowledge that they sort was how to get rid of nail-head. That might not be enjoyable, but it was needed. “If you have any questions or doubts about the knowledge that you seek stop now and never open this tome again. You have been warned. What is your request? What do you seek to find? Choose now.” A warning and a strict time limit.

The last statement was very interesting “I know not this Ramzaheed of which you speak oh pure of soul. But for your concern for your friend I will grant you one free question or request.” The book seems to like love, and pure souls.

“Oh great guardian, thank you for granting me a free request. I request is based upon my love for my friend Ramzaheed, which you are currently possessing, i request that you allow him to speak to me, before I make my final choice.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
“Ah, so that is the name of this young one. I foresee no problem in granting that request but I shall be watching and waiting. I shall give you up to one hour of communication with him upon which time I will regain control. This one is very special and he is lucky to have a friend such as you,” The guardian spirit said as the aura diminished down to a faint outline and Ramzaheeds eyes returned to normal.
“Man, what a weird experience,” he said just as his feet touched the ground, “Not being able to control my own body or talk to anyone.” Then he looked at Angus with a smile and said, “Lucky for me we have a mental link with each another.”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Angus

"Yes, very lucky!" Angus agreed. "The book said you were very special. I must agree. It is good to have you back for a while” Angus said out loud.

“What is the book all about?” Angela asked

“Yes! It seems powerful. It is asking me to request something, or it can help us seek something. But we don’t know the cost. I was assuming we want to find Nailhead… but maybe we want to find the thing that kills or drives him away.” Angus asked “What should I do, what should I ask for?”

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
“I’m not sure this will work but you could ask it if there is anything that we can do for it,” Ramzaheed said thinking about he felt alone and isolated while the guardian was in control of his body.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

The Engineer:​

Walking around the outside of the Professor’s residence the one Called The Engineer, The High Priest, The Dark Priest, sometimes Nail Head. It’s true name had been forgotten, lost, in the annals of the Nine Hells and the Abyss.

He’ almost gotten them at the Library, outside the wards of the House. Too bad the spy had been slow to communicate their location. But now they were back in the cursed house. The house of the Celestial. But they wouldn’t be able to stay for long.

Gesturing he commanding his ally to cast the spell.

Stepping forwards the robed figure’s hands and fingers twisted, Sulphur flying forth in a wave. A word and it ignited casting flames in a wave upon the grounds. Instantly trees, grass, brush, and flower ignited into an inferno.

Balls of fire went forth crashing against the mystic shield, battering it. It wouldn’t be fast, but soon it would fall to the arcane damage and then it would burn. They would all burn.​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Van

Van let the curtain fall back in place as he puffed on his cigarette. “Fire… his little helper is trying to burn through the wards” he told everyone in the room.

“That will take some time” Gem explained. She had gotten up a minute earlier. She was still rubbing her jaw where Angus had hit her. She continued to wear the blind fold.

“Are you sure I need to keep wearing this blindfold? It limits the spells I can use” She asked Angus.

“Yes” Angus said. “It is the best thing for the curse that has been placed on you”

Van grunted at that comment. None of them had any idea what had happened to Gem. They just knew if Gem looked at them, she’d see the legs again… and run off screaming. The blindfold prevented that from happening.

Van was getting a bit sick of this Nail-Faced asshole. He really wanted to kill him. He could feel his blood pulsating though his veins. He pulled out his new flask from his breast pocket and took a swig.

“AHHH” he gasped as the liquid seared his throat.

“More holy water?” Angela asked.

“Yes, but holier this time!” Van bragged.

“Ok, if we have some time… Then I’ll try Ramzaheed’s idea.” Angus said. “in the meantime, everyone get ready to kick Nail-heads ass.”

Angus stood up and faced Ramzaheed. “Oh great guardian of the book. We have decided to not to request aid from you to solve our nailhead problem. However, we wish to help you. Is there anything that we can do for you?” Angus asked Ramzaheed.

 

[Jakcavar]

Ramzaheed
As his eyes turned black again the guardian spirit said, “Not once since my creation as anyone ever asked me that. Thank you for your concern. Here is a free and friendly piece of advice. In your current state none of you can hope to truly kill him, but you can contain him with a divine gem. As for what you can do for me, find a way for me to have my own physical body. I wish to be free from this accursed book so that I don’t have to answer questions that are so easily solved. For now I must rest.” Upon that final statement the spirit fully released Ramzaheed and the book closed itself and landed on the floor at Angus’ feet.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

The Engineer:
His face was cold, but annoyed. This was taking longer than it should! A simple gesture and another associate stepped forth. "Dig them out."

Nodding the Dark Druid, once a protector of the forest that were its home, before it's fall to evil chanted, calling upon the creatures that wriggle, crawled, and crept, slithered and lurked. The ground began to quake and shift as millions of creatures poured forth from the bushes, hives, webs, and burrows.

The Dark Druid, once an elf, now looking more insectoid under the Engineer's 'assistance' called forth a spell that made living creatures tremble. Doom creeped forth, passing through the barrier with ease. Neither good nor evil the insects simple were a part of nature. the one that had called them was evil, but just as a spear could pass, so could they.

Attacking the structure itself they began to eat and tear at the doors and walls.

"Give me the Girl!" The Engineer called. "I just want her."