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Post by Janus on Jun 23, 2018 15:25:50 GMT -5
You call the station and get put through to the day shift Lieutenant. Apparently all calls for the Captain get routed through the on duty senior officer.
"McPheirson, what's the problem detective?"
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Post by lilithsboy on Jun 24, 2018 21:57:01 GMT -5
I would like to know if there is a record of someone being sent to my house on.... Christopher checks the date and time of the video. Furthermore I would like to report a missing person earmarked for my unit.
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Post by Janus on Jun 25, 2018 11:25:49 GMT -5
"Give me the missing persons details whilst I check."
You give your assistants details and there is tapping of a keyboard from the other end of the phone.
"OK, I'll pass the message to the captain and send a squad car to your employee's residence to check there as a precaution."
"As to officcers at your residence, no, no record of any officer being dispatched to your house. Is there a problem?"
Whilst you are waiting something occurs to you. Your grandmothers disappearance is a cold case despite your best efforts to keep it alive there has been no new evidence for years. You looked up cold cases whilst in training. Cold cases need significant new evidence for them to be reopened or permission of the commissioner of police.
If Dyre was looking to reopen the case she would need someone to shake new evidence loose and that would have to be done unofficially. What better way than a private detective who specialised in the supernatural?
Of course at the moment you are speculating.
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Post by lilithsboy on Jun 27, 2018 1:46:25 GMT -5
Multiple problems in fact. If they do find her there, I would advise your officers not to approach because I cannot be certain exactly what she is at that point. It was not officers but the question has certainly been answered, please let Dryer know that if has taken over a decade for her to get off her ass and do something only to endanger the lives of those around me, I will not be thanking her for it any time soon; also until this mess is cleaned up and contained I will probably be distracted.
Christopher does not bother to wait for a response and hangs up the phone. He realizes that the only two people who knew anything about this are both unreachable and so goes and finds cleaning supplies intent on dusting the sitting room, checking the shelves there and seeing if anything in the desk might be of use.
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Post by Janus on Jun 27, 2018 10:05:19 GMT -5
(OOC - I'm assuming by Sitting room you mean your Grandmothers reading room)
Cleaning the sitting room takes time, layers of dust accumulated over years however eventually come away. Half way though your phone rings. It's Abthorpe.
"Uh, sir, I assume you have popped out, there is a woman at the door claiming to be a Lt. McPheirson, asking for you. Also I wanted to advise you that the mechanic has just finished so your car is no ready. I've taken the liberty of driving it to the front of the house. May I tell the lieutenant where you are?"
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Post by lilithsboy on Jun 27, 2018 23:17:32 GMT -5
Tell her to meet me in the library.
Realizing that there is no real chance of a mundane person being able to see the reading room in it's current state Christopher exits muttering a quick spell to freshen up his appearance and wait for the Lt.
Lt. McPheirson what might I be able to do for you?
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Post by Janus on Jun 28, 2018 10:29:34 GMT -5
Lt. McPheirson, an athletic looking middle aged black woman wearing a suit, looks at you and smiles.
"Detective, you made it pretty clear that you have a situation going on here that was relevant to your unit. So until they arrive I'm your back up. Captain's number one rule. Nobody works alone."
You notice from your watch that there is now only about an hour now until your shift should be starting.
"There is a marked unit outside, is there anything else you need?"
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Post by lilithsboy on Jun 28, 2018 21:15:52 GMT -5
I see so are you any sort of magician or specialist in dead languages? Because here is the main issue with the situation, I cannot leave. When I try... Well you heard Abthorpe my car had to be repaired because the protective charms I put on it refused to let me leave this house to the point that it initially would not start and when I tried to force the issue all 4 tires blew at once. I assure you Lt, I am not one to ignore preventative maintenance on my vehicles particularly not the ones that cost more than the annual budget for Gotham PD.
I have recently discovered that someone here has been tampering with a room no one was allowed to remember or see, I am speculating that they did so on Dryer's orders. She did so without my permission and because of that a woman is now missing through what I believe is some sort of portal. I also have a large amount of evidence to suggest that this is the same portal a member of my family disappeared into over a decade ago. But once again I need specialist in things far outside my own capabilities and I am not able to go and retrieve them.
So if you want to help you can get Dryer or her man here. Unless like I said you have the ability to translate.... Hmm.... Now that is a thought.
Christopher walks off apparently lost in thought he first goes and collects of all things a crystal ball and next a spare pair of glasses from what looks to be his own bedroom. The glasses he deposits in a large single car garage with many large items but he continues to take the ball with him all the while muttering to himself.
Of course she would have tried the mudane way she always abhored cutting corners... Loved research and would want to be able to do it without spells.... Don't even know if she was capable of performing spells well obviously she could do something... Damn better than I am at the very least....
Eventually he remembers he is being followed around by the Lt.
Oh right here is the thing, there is an inordinately powerful artifact that bends every single law of magic, and breaks about half a dozen, under this house. I am trying not to mess with it until John calls me back but I am going to try to scry what has happened in the past if I am successful I will also be trying to use a translation spell in order to read the object from here instead of there, I don't want to add more magic to the situation downstairs see? So I think the best thing to do would be to work with exactly what John was doing then try the disappearance don't you?
Christopher is tired and obviously has forgotten to act stupid in his first interactions with the Lt. He also really does not care if she can follow what he is saying, he just does not want her to shoot him for using magic in front of her, as that tends to elicit extreme reactions from people.
***************** Witchcraft 6 6 in scrying the object in the past in order to view what Constantine was doing and fast forward to what his assistant was up to.(I would imagine that this will have the negative 1 attached so please take that out)
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Post by Janus on Jul 2, 2018 10:18:30 GMT -5
Surprisingly the Lieutenant waits patiently as you cast. This is clearly not her first encounter with magic from the fact that she does not speak or interrupt or distract you from what you are doing.
You watch as John Constantine comes to the door, speaks to Abthorpe, shows his private investigator ID, and is let in. He looks around the house, clearly incanting as he goes though Abthorpe doesn't seem to notice. He looks over the library and actually passes the door then pauses and frowns, steps back to the door and looks at Abthorpe who is at that point lost to the spell, waves to Abthorpe and then redoubles his spell and sees the door.
The image goes a little blurry at this point and you want very much to look away. Knowing the spell however you keep watching and see John struggle with the spell, eventually taking out a pocket knife and making the nick in the door. Then he examines the door and opens it.
You you thought before he goes into the room, looks around and eventually spots the hidden door. After that he closes his eyes for a moment, then leaves the room. He approaches Abthorpe and starts talking to him, Abthorpe eventually comes to looking a little startled but then talks normally. After that John takes a cursory look at the other rooms and leaves. Just after Abthorpe shuts the front door on him however John flips over the outside front door mat and chalks a small magic circle on the front step before covering it over again with the door mat.
The circle is something you are very familiar with, it is a spell to enhance the heath magic of the building, making it more difficult for anyone not invited in to work magic or scry on the area. As the owner of the building it's not something you would even notice but it makes life very difficult for any other magic user.
Beth's visit is much less interesting, she arrives looking upset and Abthorpe lets her in, they chat and he shows her to the library. It's her custom to sit in the library and work or read if she is waiting for you. You see her frown and look directly at the door, then with a puzzled look on her face approaches the door and opens it.
She looks around obviously curious and puzzled and then smiles and pulls a book off the shelf, blowing the dust off, she puts the book carefully, pulling other books off and looking, eventually she reaches the false book and she actually gasps as the door opens. She then makes her way down the stairs with a look of wonder on her face.
She makes her way slowly down the stairs and into the secret room where she takes in the scene wide eyed before walking carefully over to the circle. She looks at the circle shrugs slightly in incomprehension, then steps over the circle clearly wanting to get a better look at the artifact. She reaches out tentatively to touch the disk, not grabbing, just clearly wanting to touch, her finger meets the disk. There is a flash and she is gone.
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Post by lilithsboy on Jul 2, 2018 11:15:33 GMT -5
Stupid girl if I have told her once I have told her a thousand times not to touch things she does not understand in this house.
Unsure if the detective could see what happened Christopher gives her a play by play of what he saw
Until we can get that tablet translated or get someone here who knows what they are doing with transportation magic the library is unsafe for visitors. Mr. Constantine apparently decided to protect us from any outside magical forces I will wager he did not consider that my assistant was strong willed enough to get past the weakened protections on the door, or dumb enough to go messing around with things she obviously did not understand. Speaking of which...
He calls Abthorpe over the phone to come into the library, he just thought of something.
Abthorpe I want to ask you a very important question, did my grandmother have any special rules regarding this library 13 years ago? Who could clean it who was allowed in that sort of thing? Also even if she did not I am going to tell you now no one is to be allowed in here except you and I I know some of our cleaning staff let curiosity get the better of them and that could be disastrous at this point.
Hmm... Also I believe your shift will be ending soon.... and mine starting let me brew up something quickly I think it is time we consulted a few others Lt. Unless of course you have questions of your own?
He begins to pull out what looks to be a chemisty set gone wrong and begins boiling water on a modern day bunson burner. Whatever he is doing the reactions do not make since from a chemist stand point.
I hate doing this one it works mind but it only replenishes the physical. The mind needs sleep so the subconscious can deal with issues for the conscious mind taken too often it can lead to madness, which is why this is only the 3rd time I have taken it in years.
********************************** Witchcraft 3 Create a potion that will allow him to act as though he has had a full nights sleep.
Photographic memory to remember the potion exactly.
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Post by Janus on Jul 2, 2018 16:43:38 GMT -5
"No special instructions that I recall, sir." Says Abthorpe, with just a hint of uncertainty in his voice. It's likely the spell that made him forget the room also made him forget any instructions relating to the room. "I shall inform the staff first thing."
McPhierson shakes her head and settles back to watch. She seems to be the sort to let experts in a field get on with it and be there if she is needed.
The potion takes a few moments to make and with it not being the first time you've made it you have few problems. Of course if you had had longer the taste would probably be better, it will certainly last a few hours, probably not all night though.
Just as you finish however you hear the sound of a gun leaving its holster.
"Detective, I'm not an expert on magic, but I assume 'that' shouldn't be happening."
The lieutenant is staring out of the window at your front garden. Night has fallen and for a moment you know something is wrong with the picture but not quite what. Then it happens and you realise.
Out on the road, all of the street lights have gone out, then as you watch the lights at the end of your drive go out. The drive lights are connected to an independent power circuit to the street lights. Then the lights one step closer to the house go out. It is as if something is approaching.
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Post by lilithsboy on Jul 3, 2018 0:50:52 GMT -5
No I would imagine that is what Mr. Constantine was trying to ward off. I do hope he is successful because otherwise whatever is after an artifact of that magnitude will probably be quite capable of killing us with little more then a thought. Notice how it is stopping the electricity only to certain lights as opposed to breaking the circuit entirely... That would mean it has a huge ammount of control, though it does not realize that by doing such things it is giving a general idea of its position... Unless of course that is a simple diversion. Call Dryer wake her up if you have to tell her we are about to be in some serious shit.
Christopher pulls out his cellular phone to try and get in contact with Constantine again. all the while looking around trying to see the aura of whatever is coming after them.
Come on I think I have an idea.
He sets out towards the door with the spell on it since he can identify it he might be able to put it back to right.
Get in hurry, if I do seem to want to wander off then open the door all the way and pull me in making sure you do not get anywhere near this side of it..
He cast his spell to heal and reaffirm the protections on the door making sure his own mental defenses are up as he does so, perhaps by weakening them this thing was able to get a general idea of location, the door once fooled Constantine for a bit and this is the best protection he can offer.
No touching the stone downstairs either of you unless there is no other choice I do not know where it takes you.
************************************** Okay there is a lot here but main points Tell her to get Dryer while he gets Constantine Try to see where this thing really is and perhaps what it is. Try to fix the spell bringing it to full power and take shelter behind it.
Witchcraft 6 to fix the spell 3 stones shifted to meantal defense. See magic Auras.
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Post by Janus on Jul 6, 2018 19:46:23 GMT -5
"My men are outside." Says Lt. McPhierson, heading for the door to the library. "I'm not going to leave them."
You hear McPhierson's voice from the hallway.
"You two, inside. Now!"
Lights keep going out outside as you stare out of the window, only this time, with your other set of eyes. Dark shapes flitter out in the darkness. They look and move like the shadows of some other worldly demon, only there is no demon there. You vaguely recall an entry in one of the books in your library on Shadow Demons, though you have yet to read it. These would seem to fit the bill. You dial John Constantine's number as the Lieutenant works.
"Dispatch, this is McPhierson, major supernatural incident at Detective Bradley's residence, officers need assistance. Place an emergency call to Captain Dyer."
McPhierson has done her part, time for you to do yours. You hear the answer machine message again.
"Alright, this is John, I'm probably pissed, so leave a message."
Apparently John Constantine isn't a cavalry riding the rescue kind of guy. You may have to do this yourself. Worse still Abthorpe seems to have no idea where it is you want him to go. With the spell still intact any time he even looks at it he goes blank and actively moves away, clearly under the spells influence.
The lights next to the building go out, shrouding the outside in pitch darkness. You have no choice, making your grandmothers legacy safe is your only option so you mend her spell.
The missing piece of the circle flies up from under a book case and seamlessly melds into place. The door simple ceases to be as though it was never there in the first place. You can feel the pressure of the spell on your mind, asking you to forget, look away, ignore.
There is a shudder as whatever is out there hits the barrier John placed around the house, the the lights flicker, they stutter, but they stay on.
Now the real fight begins.
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Post by lilithsboy on Jul 6, 2018 21:50:56 GMT -5
Millie is probably going to hate me for this.glancing at Lt. McPhierson Don't tell her I called her Millie. The red leather tome over there bring it to me turn to page 394 and tell me exactly what it says on shadow demons.
Christopher is cursing himself for not taking shadow demons seriously but obviously this can be rectified. His mental faculties back to full capacity he begins to chant drawing power from the stars and the sun which has already set but still shines on the earth somewhere. Though he only knows the theory behind summoning his witchcraft roots still cause him to want to try and invoke those with both a tie to light and protection.
He calls his directions rather strangely this time picking a deity of prectecion in some way who is also associated with an element turning to each and calling the diety: North, Earth Eki, East Wind Bast, South Fire Freyr, West Water Radagast.
Eki though you have returned to your mother's womb the humans in this room require your protecting light against the evils of the spirit realm this night. Bast, they bring war to us shine your dawn light and fight back the demons again. Freyr cast them out and bring us peace with your light. Radagast, they are not granted your sacred hospitality shine forth your light so that we may cast out the usurpers who offer only torment.
******************************************************* Witchcraft 3 to create a wall of pure sunlight around them.
Photographic memory to help him remember which book and read the passage.
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Post by Janus on Jul 25, 2018 16:36:49 GMT -5
Christopher
"Page 394, 394... Where in the hell do you buy this stuff from? Ok, here it is Shadow Demons. 'Rarely found upon our plane and even more rarely seen, I do consider myself fortunate and damned to have gazed upon these foul creatures. In darkness their visage may not be seen and yet even in the light they appear as naught but animate shadows. I learned little from simply watching them other than a feeling of great dread and sense that controlled or no they consider all living things their enemy at best and at worst food.'"
She reads slowly as if the writing in the book was difficult to read and in fairness Abramanov's compendium, which she is reading from was badly written and dated. Both of those being reasons you had simply stuck the book on a shelf for later.
"'I learned from mine host that such creatures may be summoned with surprisingly little effort as they delight in being upon this plane and tormenting all those they come across. However once here they are most troublesome to dispatch or persuade to depart so are best used when maintaining control over them or simply directing to kill a certain target in bargain for their freedom.'"
You start to feel something odd, like a tugging or a draining sensation at the edge of your senses. Definitely magical but not draining you, something you attached to more like.
"'Teeth and claws are their main weapons, and fire and sunlight their greatest fear for great pains are they caused by either though I suspect properly forged silver might do similar work upon them if one might first find the cursed things.'"
McPhierson swears and mutters something under her breath as she changes clips in her gun.
"You want me to keep going? There's a whole chapter to get through yet."
Mildred, Cerberus & Jon
You arrive to darkness, pitch darkness, the sort of darkness city dwellers rarely experience but that some primal part of you knows means danger. The lights all around the area are out, within perhaps a mile radius, the only source of real light is Christopher's house off in the distance and from one of the ground floor you see real light. You'd be tempted to call it sunlight.
Mildred isn't close enough for it to harm her but it is definitely daylight and definitely uncomfortable. Something screwy is going on because there is no explanation for its existence other than magic and no reason for such magic other than some supernatural danger.
Around you is the road at the bottom of Christopher's very long drive way. The area is hardly what you would call residential as it appears to be a road that connects large country estates, so there are no cars around but in this area of Gotham you would expect the street lights to be working. The wealthy don't like to be left in the dark.
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