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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Aug 23, 2016 14:54:05 GMT
Aeriel was nervous as she stood there looking down at the grave that held the corpse she was intending to raise. She'd done her homework but this fellow was about 150 years dead and there had been holes in what she had found herself and what the history people behind her had said. There hadn't been any evidence he was anything other than human but this town was filled with the supernatural as it had always been. She had voiced her concerns days ago and after much debate it was decided he had been wholly human plus the 15 grand on top of what she had already been paid. She needed the money and she figured she could handle anything thrown at her.
The sun had gone down about 3 hours ago. She would rather have done this in the daylight but the night had always bumped up her powers. This wasn't something she usually did and in fact she had never done it in front of other people. There had been a few mishaps in the past but nothing serious. For instance she knew she could raise this corpse without using a sacrifice but if anybody happened to be out there other then the paying clients word would get around and that she was trying to avoid.
Stepping back she turned and walked to the group of men. All of them were excited if a little apprehensive. She had gone over what would happen beforehand but just in case any of them had forgotten she went over it again. It was supposed to be pretty straightforward and hopefully it would be.
Walking off she grabbed her bag and the biggest chicken she could find. She really wasn't a fan of killing animals which is what had prompted her to try without them but she wouldn't risk it.
Walking back to the grave she set everything down far enough back so as to not be in the way. Crouching down she unzipped the bag and pulled out the containers of salt, a large wooden bowl and bowie knife. When she was ready she called the group over and reminded them not to cross into her circle. Focusing back on the job she picked up several containers and walking in a wide circle around the grave she poured a decently even line of salt all the while pouring energy into her line so that when she came full circle she felt a flare and knew the first part was complete. At least she was getting better at that part she thought. Once done she stepped back to the bag grabbing her jar of paste for lack of a better word and went ahead and spread it on her face, over her heart and hands and put a smear of it across the face of the tombstone. She still wasn't sure if she was doing it correctly but so far it had worked. Next she grabbed the chicken and her knife deciding to forgo using the bowl, she didn't have to have it. Knowing how close she was she took a deep breathe and stepped across the line of power allowing the hold on her power to loosen even more and suddenly the cemetery went from being just a cemetery as normal people saw it to something that was just.. More. It was a bit unsettling.
Checking one last time to be sure the men were where they should have been she knelt placing the body of the chicken under one knee to keep the struggling to a minimum she quickly sliced it open. The blood from such a small animal gushed out hot over her hand quickly making it's way into the ground and just like that her circle closed. Her necromancy flared creating that cool wind she knew best and suddenly she knew exactly what to do with it like she'd forgotten. Shoving it into the ground she could feel it searching through the layers of dirt for the pile of bones and clothe the man had been buried in. She waited for the power to begin knitting the bones back together and when it was time she called out "By blood and iron I call Brandon McAllister to rise from the grave." It wasn't that she had to say anything but she had noticed it helped keep her focused on the single grave rather then the many surrounding her. Seconds later a hand sprang from the ground like a damn daisy, the earth rolling doing it's best to spit him out in one piece.
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Post by Hermes Xanatos on Aug 24, 2016 1:35:28 GMT
There was something all too alluring about being the only one in the know as to the nature of things that Hermes found lonely. He was never much of a joiner and as such usually stayed away from covens guilds schools and the various other names witches wizards hedges and psychics called themselves. He wa s aloner it was safer for most of the world as his friend always disappeared. And by disappeared he meant met gruesome ends. He’d thought Tibs would have been different but that hadn’t been the case. All well more was the pity.
He was here now as simply security. The Mcallister foundation had a lot of money riding on this deposition and he was to ensure that the no outside forces would interfere. It was nice work if you could get it. He’d never met Ms. Hartwell but she was highly recommended. This was unbeknownst to her an interview as he could always use more Animators to help with his often taxing case load. Then she began and all bets were off. She was no animator she was a full godbless her necromancer. He patted himself on the back for not spilling the beans like the kid who let the Emperor know he was dangling.
He immediately checked the spells he’d hung about himself and began scanning the night sky. Sure as it was the witching hour they would come they couldn’t help but be drawn by the strength and magic in the air. Especially magic that called to them. He knew the Master of the city was an old school childe of the lust queen and as such he feared for Ms. Hartwells safety and his paycheck if she was interrupted during this. Hiring seemed the most insane thing to do outside of pick a fight with every Kiss form San Diego to Miami. He shielded himself and moved to where he would have a clear line of sight of Ms. Hartwell and the area around them things would get hectic fast and her circle of Protection was based on her concentration so they were just about doomed
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Master of Maîtres De Sang
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Post by Gates on Aug 24, 2016 5:38:33 GMT
Gates did his best to lead and not do in some cases he was not as successful as he liked. In the case of the only necromancer in the entirety of the south he had very little options but to watch and wait for those who would come. Those who would either try to end her existence, to sway her to their service or worse attempt to lay waste to all who had known her. She was a liability to the city yes but sometimes that was the only benefit worth having those could be the undoing.
As such he’d sought after her care since striking their agreement. Watching without interfering. It was a difficult position to hold with all that was transpiring elsewhere in the world let alone within his city and Dallas. AS such while she’d been watched hers was her own time. That was until tonight. He watched nmore directly as the corpse she sought to animate was over one hundred years old. That was the outer extreme of ages raised by any necromancer and a beacon to anyone who watched such things. Even a Necromancer that was strong enough to do so would need a large sacrifice. She in truth did not the blood was a focus for her yet he knew form having brushed her aura that she was truly stronger than even she knew.
Having located her he lowered himself to the ground far enough away and shielded so that he was all but another shadow of night. It was no small surprise that Xanatos was in residence. He alit near the man as his gaze was skyward and he watched pensiveness all over him. Gates spared a notion to startle him but decided against it. Instead he lowered his voice while projecting it. “Good evening. Mister Xanatos. It is a surprise finding you here as well.”
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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Aug 24, 2016 8:10:07 GMT
Her attention was still fully focused on the zombie spilling out of the ground. She had learned from a past error to never stop until it was fully free and even then her part wasn't over. It didn't take nearly as long as it felt for Brandon or what was left of him at any rate to join her, completely free of his grave. And all Aeriel could do was gape at her handy work. If she hadn't known better she would have thought he was still alive, still human.
Shaking her head she was very surprised but for now it was pushed aside. He was still a zombie no matter how alive he looked which meant he was just going to stand there until with a blank face until he had been given blood, her blood to be more precise.
Stepping forward she drew the blade across her arm about an inch below the crook of her elbow and stuck her arm in front of his face. Instantly the zombie reacted to the smell of fresh blood and latched onto her arm. It lasted about a minute or so before she drew back and then the wait began.
She wasn't sure how much a zombie of his age would remember about who he had been but they were certainly about to find out. They all watched as Brandon slowly returned to himself. He didn't seem to be fearful as he looked around. She wasn't sure which kind of zombie he would be but she was a little afraid. Thankfully he seemed to be human and nothing more. There was still room for things to go sideways but for now it was peachy.
Brandon focused on her first a frown forming on his face. The first few questions he asked were normal. Such as who she was, where they were and surprisingly he took him being dead pretty well. Looking beyond her he spotted the group curiously so she explained as best she could about the why's of why he had been brought back. So far the man was blunt but not rude. Small blessings. At that point Aeriel commanded him to answer their questions as best he could and stepped across the line. She needed to take care of her wound on the off chance it became infected.
Walking over to her bag she dug through it searching for antibacterial wipes, tape and gauze and when it was found she quickly and deftly patched herself up. It was at that point her head snapped up. That voice sounded familiar but surely not. Her senses probed outwards finding almost nothing but not quite. There were very faint traces of vampire which had her head turning around searching the darkness. She couldn't see him but he was there. Walking back to the group she kept an ear out for it again.
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Post by Hermes Xanatos on Aug 24, 2016 16:25:47 GMT
For all of his many failings being a slow study was not one of them. He was at times too quick on the uptake. This was one of those times. The Master of the city was sneaking around in the dark of a cemetary during a raising.
He looked towards the raven haired animator. The master owes him a favor so he wasnt worried about death as much as hhe was curious.
He spoke low doing his best impression of the Masters greeting. "Good evening master Gates. I would ask what brings you around instead I'll just thank you for being here as that would mean no other vampire would dare anything."
Moving back towards the group he fought the urge to look behind him to find where the Master was hidden. He moved towards Ms Hartwell directly knowing that everrything was being watched and protected by the master.
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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Aug 25, 2016 6:51:54 GMT
She half listened to the questions and answers made by both parties. She really wasn't all that interested in the why's. She was still searching for Gates as he was far more interesting.
She kept coming back to a certain spot but it was still large enough that she couldn't precisely pinpoint his location. Whispering mostly to herself but just loud enough she knew he could hear her "I know you're here Gates. Why are you hiding from me?" It was a few seconds after that she noticed the guy standing there with his attention on her.
Turning to face him she sized the guy up out of habit. There was something different about him versus the rest of his group. It was possible he was gifted in some way but she wasn't going to poke around his shields. That would be rude. "May I help you?" She wasn't being rude but she wasn't exactly polite either.
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Post by Hermes Xanatos on Aug 25, 2016 21:12:25 GMT
“Actually I think I am here to help you. The Mcallister Founcation hired me to keep an eye on the area while you do your thing. They are a special group but not as collectively dumb as most others like them. You know what they do right?” He asked matter of factly. He wouldn’t mention the big bad in their midst as that might be his undoing he was good but battling vampires was not a thing he excelled with. There just weren’t enough heavy buildings to drop on them and keep them down for long.
“You’re really quite good most wouldn’t have been able to raise someone that old without a huge sacrifice let alone in as good a shape as you have him back in. I’m jealous and that is saying a lot.” He liked her not taking a shine to him that meant she would be safe from his curse. The only problem it made small talk about anything almost impossible. Which was fine the Foundation was busy questioning their ancestor and that left the area to him. He wouldn’t let them know that the head honcho of the city had deigned them with his presence but it was the best guarantee that he would be paid as in this case everyone would still be alive come the end of it. It did make him curious as to why Gates had shown up to begin with.
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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Aug 27, 2016 7:28:21 GMT
Her eyebrows raised a bit while her look clearly said ' and you really think you can do that if shit goes sideways?' She didn't say it but oh man she considered it. She wasn't cocky about her own abilities but she didn't trust the man the foundation had hired to 'watch the area'. Having no idea who he was or what he could or couldn't do was a problem. Maybe she needed to put some kind of stipulation or screening process on the hired help. It wasn't a bad idea. For now she would play nice.
"Not to put a damper on things but I doubt it'll be you that keeps the other baddies away." He could take that however he liked. She considered mentioning the vampire to him but she hadn't a clue if he was aware that they weren't alone. "And no I don't know what they do. I was more interested of their reasons for wanting a man that's been dead for so long raised." She hadn't done homework on them, just the zombie as he was the job not them.
She wasn't sure what to say to the semi compliment he paid her. It made her a tad uncomfortable. She should have grabbed a larger animal which made it her fault that now there were people in the know. She'd known she could do it but hadn't been sure any of it would go smoothly. Maybe she had just lucked out. She was curious though. "Why is you being jealous saying a lot?" He didn't have to answer but maybe he would.
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Master of Maîtres De Sang
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Post by Gates on Aug 27, 2016 8:09:25 GMT
"No if it comes to that it would be me.” Gates said seeming to materialize near them just out of sight of the Foundation members who were busily notating the answers to their questions. Their avarice was overwhelming as it was curious. “As to why our socially awkward mages jealousy should be of some note he is the only actual mage allowed to travel as he does. From Los Angeles to New York and around the world as a whole. He is unaligned and stronger than most covens he runs across. As one who is host to a bevy of pseudo powerful covens and families of witches a mage born is almost as rare as you. Though not nearly as deadly.”
Gates only interceded as he knew that Xanatos was prone to overdoing things and the last thing he needed was more attention being brought this scene. The sooner the Foundation members finished and Aeriel returned the zombie to his grave the better the chances that her very awe inspiring actions would not be noticed too directly by others. If Xanatos added his own depth of mystical energies it would be an assurety that others would notice and lock onto the area perhaps even investigating directly. Gates held no doubts that he was the strongest vampire of the strongest vampires in the region but what strength of arms could not win guile sometimes did.
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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Aug 30, 2016 6:47:39 GMT
Aeriel jumped slightly at Gates voice. She should have known he would pop up like that, he was great at it as always. Never made any noise no matter how much she complained about it. She glared in his direction "are you trying to make me die of fright?" She wanted to smack him for it but figured with other people around he might not take it well. Could you imagine the master of the city seen getting popped upside the head like some errant child? It could have been funny if she wasn't almost positive he would eat her alive.
Still she listened to what he said with interest. He gave her more then she thought he would about a man she didn't know. Well actually now she knew a fair amount about the man and that he was a mage was impressive. She looked at the mage with a new eye, not that she liked him any better. "Well now that was more then I had bargained for Gates. Still it was useful to know what he is." She smiled in his direction as that was about all he going to get from her.
"So I guess you are here for.... my protection?" Her look was very questioning.
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Master of Maîtres De Sang
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Post by Gates on Aug 30, 2016 19:54:29 GMT
"Perhaps.Perhaps not." He replied coyly saying no nor admitting yes. He wouldn't lie but sometimes her anger of which he'd grown accustomed to helped her focus. He without meaning to listened to not only the conversation he was part of but also the questions of the Mcallister foundation.
He was neither fond nor displeased with them. For the most part they were harmless. He however knew most was not all. As such when they touched on the central issue of this raising he more directly listened in. They were asking after the purported dragon of New Orleans a mister Louis Saipher formerly of the city during their zombies time.
Gates was not pleased and neither would eother of the two here. Louis Saipher was a houngan before the time of Marie Leveau whod lived purportedly two hundred years. The last recountable sighting was during the twenties.
He was also that rare power that was both Necromancer and Mage. While he directly was known to work horrible miracles his followers which had only recently been rooted out of city sacrificed white goats to him constantlty.
It was his followers who helped establish the Varmint laws as well as Humans Against Vampires. In short his followers were worse exponentially worse than the man himself. "Perhaps we should lay your zombie to rest and continue this away from prying ears."
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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Sept 2, 2016 6:50:04 GMT
Aeriel put everything on pause as she stared at him and his really irritating none answer. She hadn't realized how much she preferred being able to talk to him without other people around. And now he was back to being an ass. Ok maybe not an ass but at the moment she couldn't think of the correct word she wanted. She could feel the heat crawl over her face and down her body until she felt like she about to break out into a sweat. Why she had suddenly become so angry was anyone's guess but it had to go somewhere and she knew he could handle just about anything. Not caring one whit about the mage she beelined for the vampire all that anger aimed at him. She hit him like a ton of bricks throwing all her weight into it. She was trying to throw him off balance, anything, and within seconds he had her pinned against the tree her arms held above her head but that didn't stop her from continuing the struggle. It was several minutes before her head cleared enough to think clearly again and it had her embarrassed that she'd gone nuts. If she hadn't known better she'd have said there was a vampire messing with her mind but surely not. There had been one the other night that fed off of such emotions but surely that wasn't still effecting her. He'd caught her by surprise which was rare but it had still happened.
She wasnt sure if he could read her thoughts but he had to know what had happened. This was so far out in left field that for once she was afraid and it showed on her face.
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Master of Maîtres De Sang
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Post by Gates on Sept 3, 2016 19:57:48 GMT
And so it had already begun Gates felt the stirring of a power not his own behind Aeriel’s eyes and immediately punt kicked the mage away. His pride would take a bruising but better that than Gates have two effected. He was prrof against such subtle manipulations and allowed her to physically accost him ias he psychically accosted her. It was a a subtle effect and one closer to post hypnotic suggestion. It wasn’t strong enough to have her attempt lethal force yet it was there a compunction triggered in part by his public persona.
He could not root it out completely in such a small window he could however hold it in abeyance as he scented its ephermal tendrils back to their source. They woud surely paiy far more than they’d dremed once he was done with them. Ta the moment once concluded he restrained Aeriel physically while restraining the mage with the most ardent voice. “If you move Xanatos. I will rip your tongue from your head.”
His eyes bleeding the warm chocaltey fire of his vampire essence he looked deeply into Aeriels as she came to herself. “It would be best if you lay your zombie to rest. Then we can speak on this. Do so now.”
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Post by Hermes Xanatos on Sept 6, 2016 1:57:31 GMT
He tried not taking offense that Ms. Hartwell had no idea how special and powerful he actually was, given the right situation. Yet that all paled in comparison as he felt something a touch of vampiric power. It came out of left field as the only vampire around was Gates. As he began seeking it out he ran through the spells he had hanging. Before he could cipher the right one tweaking it for this situation Gates was a blur. He felt a football of pain land against his chest then he was fifteen feet away ass over.
He righted himself and went to act. The voice issuing from Gates brooked no challenge. He knew that if he acted he would be taking his own life in his hands. Unlike most vampires he did not know Gates to make idle threats or fail to fulfill his promises. That was more sobering than anything. So Hermes massaged his chest and kept his lips pursed tightly. It was a weird feeling to say the least. He did however open his senses and scan the area he doubted this was all there was but dared not do much more just yet as they were in a cemetery disposing a body here for a vampire would be as simple as a few hours’ worth of work if that.
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Post by Aeriel Hartwell on Sept 26, 2016 3:53:00 GMT
She blinked some and watched from what seemed like miles away as his eyes became more vampire and less human like and all she could do was stare into his eyes and then she was falling into them before she could really come to and look away. She stood there in the dark of his eyes and found herself doing exactly what he told her to do. She was halfway back to the group when she found herself again and yanked her body to a halt. She could feel him ghosting around her mind so she didn't so much speak as think her angry tirade. She would do what he'd said because it was clear she wasn't in any shape to not fly off into a rage again but she made sure he knew she was doing it because it needed to be done and not because he had forced her to with his mind.
When she rejoined the group she was as calm as she was going to get. She made sure all their questions had been asked and when they told her yes she told them it was time to put the zombie back in the ground. Some seemed to be reluctant about it but she made it very clear it was time to leave. There were some grumbling but they all wondered off to their cars and started leaving. She was pretty sure they hadnt liked her telling them they were done but that wasnt her problem.
Turning to her zombie he stood there staring after the departing men a curious look on his face. He'd already discovered he was dead which thankfully meant he wouldnt freak out on her as she layed him back to rest. He had a few questions for her which were answered easily enough and when he was ready she finished the ritual that would allow his body to empty and for the ground to swallow him back into his grave. When it was finished she cleaned her blade and gathered her items back into the bag. Standing she hefted it onto her shoulder and started walking towards her car leaving the boys to decide what they were going to do now that her job of the night was over.
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