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Post by Ashe on Oct 7, 2019 18:20:57 GMT -6
Ashe had been practicing. Ever since he had created the Shadow Node, one of his life long goals. The start of it, at any rate. He needed a lot more where that came from in order to achieve his necromancer goals, but for now, this was good. For starters. So he had practiced over and over summoning skeletons. Sometimes he used them to help train his pets, they seemed near indestructible and he could dismiss them, or rip them apart with Fafnir, with no harm no foul. But this was just practice for the real thing, a real life goal not some silly playtime training.
The only problem was, he didn't know where to start. He needed a skeleton, to raise a skeleton. It was fine raising unknown people and creatures to do his bidding. This was not the case for this special person. He had to find the exact spot, and all he knew was it was somewhere Beyond. Beyond the city walls, in the parts that the city's goverment had decided was unsafe to travel alone. They couldn't stop him, but they might try. People came and went every day, and not a single one had been Ashe, except for short excursions for gathering materials or trying to find abandoned treasure or something. Oh, and that one time he'd gone on a mission with Night. It couldn't be too bad out there, nothing had even happened when he traveled further out. Just to be sure, he'd always taken Inyala, who could scamper away for help if he needed her to.
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Post by Ashe on Oct 7, 2019 18:22:56 GMT -6
He had one idea and it might not even pan out. He had a ring that was a gift from his best friend, to wear so he would always be near. In the beginning, Ashe had taken comfort in the ring's presence and had even had conversations with it, feeling like Obs was right there with him. He had gotten strange looks and comments, he had nearly been kicked out of the Gemstoner's workshop before because he was worrying people that he'd lost his mind. But since then, Ashe had stabilized mentally, with Vix's help he had been able to focus instead on himself, her, and his creatures. He felt back to normal now, years and years after his friend's passing. He had a new friend and mentor that he did everything with. He was making new memories. While they would never replace the old, it made the old less painful.
There was one issue with this plan. He hadn't 'felt' anything from this ring in a long time now. He had attributed it to himself moving on in the grieving stages, but also liked to think it had been in part due to Obsidian finding peace to rest at last. He had it with him daily, he tried walking the perimeter of the city walls, outside the walls, to get an idea of where to go. He tried to choose a path at random, tried to think as his friend might think. He had tried to have Inyala and Akasha, both with separate skill sets, sniff out a trail, though any trail left would have been long gone by now. Seasons had changed, weather had come and gone... He still had hope each time he went out. But nothing had happened with the ring and he had returned home, defeated, each time.
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Post by Ashe on Oct 7, 2019 18:28:21 GMT -6
It was one day sitting at home while Mr. Bane was cleaning the floors. He and Jinx were sprawled out on the couch, her playing with her baby lerrel and Ashe thinking deeply while watching his Mortlings scamper around. Chores were done and it was a yucky rainy day outside so Ashe didn't feel like doing anything except lounging around with a beautiful lady. Even if he couldn't touch because he was waiting for Vix to get home from work... and then there would be touching. But it was on this day that he actually voiced to Jinx what he intended to do: to find the bones of his best friend and try to resurrect him now that he had the magic to do so. He explained their friendship, their fights, the grief and the items he'd gotten to remember Obs by. While he spoke, Inyala had hopped on the back of the couch, a little wary and concerned. Her master was discussing one of the darkest forms of magic, and he was thinking about actually doing it?
He had expected her to react with disgust or at least a little bit disturbed, but she looked at him at first with sadness, and then something else he couldn't quite place. Was it acceptance? Or expectation?
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on Oct 7, 2019 18:30:23 GMT -6
"Is that even possible?" Jinx asked, shaking her head. "I mean, I know you miss your friend, I'm sorry I never got to meet him. But he's long gone now and even if you could find the bones, and reanimate them..." To be honest, the thought of reanimating bones was a little creepy to her. She was all about rest in peace, being respectful to graves and tombs and resting places in general. The natural way of life, really. And this was anything but natural. Yet here she was, living with the man and all of his unnatural beasties and creatures. She took care of them and had even come to like a few.
Today, she was clad in a floor length black dress with slits up to her hips, her top wrapped like a sash over one shoulder. A circlet of sapphire stones rested in her hair, which was bundled up in a bun to keep it out of the way.
"Are you sure he even wants to be brought back?" The biggest question of all, really, and one she doubted Ashe had even thought of in his haste to get what he wanted. Ashe was one that didn't think of others first, not usually, but it wasn't out of spite or hatred. He just got tunnel vision when he saw something he wanted.
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Post by Ashe on Oct 7, 2019 18:36:33 GMT -6
That...was a great question. Ashe didn't know what to think. He wanted Obs to have found peace and moved on, but if that was true then why was he trying to bring him back and tether him to mortal flesh, to bring back all the pain and suffering he had gone through? Would this resurrection cost him either his friend or his lover? Could he convince them that they had all grown past all of this and live happily ever after? This conversation had made him pause and think long and hard. So long and hard, in fact, that it would be another two weeks before he even brought it up again. And it might have been even longer than that, actually, if he hadn't seen Jinx playing around with a spirit board one day. To his shock, Inyala was sitting across from her, watching intently. She was too smart to participate in summoning spirits and demons, seeing as she was one herself, but she was going to monitor what happened in Ashe's house!
He'd always thought of those things as kind of silly, boards and planchettes. Spirits didn't want to communicate with you through spelling out on a wooden board! They'd sooner possess your house and do all kinds of stuff to be noticed! Unless, maybe, the spirit wanted to communicate but was neither strong enough nor violent enough to be noticed that way...
"Jinx! I have an idea!" And he was sure he could hear her groan.
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Post by Ashe on Oct 9, 2019 17:55:32 GMT -6
Ashe hurried over to the table and sat where Inyala was; in turn, the Imp hopped onto his shoulder, the pair moving seamlessly with each other as if knowing what the other would do and when. Ashe put his hands on the table, looking down at the board, then up at Jinx's face. "We can try to contact Obsidion with this thing! He can tell us where he died!" He had a strange sort of hope surge through him, leaving his arms tingly. He was hoping she would say yes, because he knew he couldn't operate this thing alone and she was definitely more insightful into this spirit stuff than he was. Dead things and bones? Call up Ashe. Talking to the dead and seeing if a place was haunted? Call up Jinx.
Inyala was not thrilled with this idea. She chattered angrily at Ashe, which roughly translated to things like "Don't do that, you idiot!" and "Do you want demons? Because this is how we get demons!". But he shrugged his shoulders to unsettle her and make her stop the protests; he got a whap to the ear. "Ow! So, what do you say, Jinx? Will you help me try?"
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on Oct 9, 2019 18:15:21 GMT -6
Jinx looked Ashe over, and his disapproving little minion on his shoulder. She had the spirit board for a reason, and she couldn't very well use it alone, and Inyala had definitely not been the most eager of assistants before her master sat down. She would prefer more people. "Maybe Vixen would like to join us?" She asked, her head tilted slightly. Her hair was down and fell around her shoulders as she moved. But Ashe shook his head and explained the Vix was busy and probably wouldn't want to get involved in summoning her ex boyfriend. Even though her connection to him would make the spiritual connection stronger. But it could also interrupt the communication link, if he didn't want to talk while his ex girlfriend was here...
Not seeing another way around this, Jinx decided to go ahead and go for it. "Alright, alright. Let's give it a shot." But instead of initiating, she got up and started gathering some candles. She had a handful when she was done and started to set them up. She made a star with a white candle at the northern point, and the ouija board in the middle. The two southern points were black candles to ward off negativity, and the east and west were shades of blue.
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on Oct 9, 2019 18:20:58 GMT -6
She lit the candles and sat back, glancing around to make sure things were in place. She had dimmed the lights while she gathered the candles, creating a soothing atmosphere. In the darkness, there would be less distraction with the rest of the daily life, and more focus on the board, lit by candles. She verified she could still see the board, and then reached out and touched the planchette with her two hands. She nodded for Ashe to do the same on the other side. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, calling to the spirits. "Spirits, we beseech thee! We are looking for a dear friend. Obsidion, if you are here, please use this spirit board to communicate with us!" Once the call was completed, she opened her eyes and looked down at the planchette, knowing Ashe would know better than to move it on his own, and she would never interfere herself. They just had to wait, and hope, that his spirit still lingered on this plane, and would heed the call, and would even want to communicate.... Some spirits just never did, and were content where they were.
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Post by Ashe on Oct 9, 2019 18:27:00 GMT -6
Ashe sat back and watched as Jinx got things ready. He wanted to help, since she was doing this for him after all, but he didn't know the first thing about doing this so he stayed out of the way, ready to hop up and assist if needed. Inyala occasionally made comments, telling Ashe it wasn't too late to back out, that he didn't need to be this silly, that there was no shame in not inviting a demon into your home. They both ignored the fact that she was a demon and he had invited - forced, really - her into his home. But he was also, unfortunately, ignoring the fact that a demon would know a demon, and he should probably listen to her.... Yamase had once yelled at him for not listening to her, but here he was, still not listening.
When Jinx settled back down in the darkness and took up the planchette, Ashe put his hands on the other side to mirror hers. Fingertips touching, enough pressure to hold it steady between them with opposing force, but not too hard that the spirit wouldn't be able to move it either. He kept quiet, letting her do the summoning, but his thoughts were full of Obsidion. Them goofing off, getting into trouble. The good things. No negative thoughts, he knew that much at least.
Now they just had to wait for the eye to move.
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Post by Obsidion on Oct 9, 2019 18:39:56 GMT -6
Something tugged. It felt... strange, like a thread coming unraveled from clothing. He knew he was being called, since when did that happen? There was a surge behind him like a wave that drove him toward a quintet of lights, another, brighter light in the middle of them all. He stood there and slowly placed his hands on the planchette as well, a smile playing across his lips. Just like Ashe to do something like this, he hadn't talked to him in a long time, some of the magic in the ring was dying after all, it probably wouldn't have lasted much longer. Slowly, he pushed the rest of himself into the planchette and settled in with a grin on his face. A quick push into the hands of the woman to let her know he was there and he had this, and then he slowly moved across the board so they could see what he was trying to say.
H E Y
A S H E
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on Oct 10, 2019 18:31:20 GMT -6
A chill shot down Jinx's spine as she felt the spirit almost as if it had solidified here at the table. She was thus given a slight warning, moreso than Ashe at least, for what was about to happen. Sure enough, the planchette started to move on its own, guided by the spirit they had called. She was absolutely thrilled! Her first true seance and not only was it a success (well, better not count those chickens yet, the Spirit still had to be Obs and the Obs-spirit had to remember...)! Such a quick response time. The only conclusion Jinx could come to was that Obs still had a lingering connection to Ashe. They must have been pretty close friends, she mused silently, for their bond to be so strong. No wonder Ashe wanted to try to bring him back.
Jinx glanced at Ashe, who looked up in surprise, but her focus went mostly down onto the planchette moving around, concentrating on what it was trying to say. Oh, look at that, it greeted Ashe by name!
4/5
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Post by Ashe on Oct 10, 2019 18:31:29 GMT -6
Ashe felt the planchette move and he glanced up quickly to see if this was Jinx doing the next step, or trying to pull a fast one on him. But he saw the same surprise he felt reflected on her face and he believed that she was just as innocent as he was. The wooden triangular eye moved around, seeming of its own accord, and together Ashe and Jinx spelled out the letters as it moved around. Ashe noted that it moved slow enough that they could keep up, but firmly and with purpose. Curiosity won out and Ashe purposely tried to slow it down, but it moved against his fingers and pushed him on. If this was real, it was insane! He hadn't expected to get a response, let alone so fast. It had just been a hope, an idea. And here he was, sitting at a board talking to his dead best friend! It had to be Obs, because it spelled out his name. It knew him! Random spirits wouldn't know his name!
"Hi, Obs! Man, it's been a damn long time!" He laughed a little bit, relieved and happy. "Hey, buddy, we have a question for you... It's a tough one, and I'm sorry for asking, but...." He paused. How rude was it to ask a ghost where their body was? Where they died? Would he be cursed? "Um... Do you remember.... Where it was you, ah, died?"
Ashe: 1 2/5
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Post by Obsidion on Oct 10, 2019 19:39:23 GMT -6
Died? What did he mean died?
Oh...
The only way he could do this was if he had died, wasn't it? It was hard to remember sometimes that he was dead, just a spirit, a ghost? He chuckled to himself and he saw a candle flicker. Amused, Obsidion leaned in and breathed on one of the candles, watching it blow away from him until he finished. It was interesting to see what he could manipulate and what he couldn't, he enjoyed the intricacies of what he was right now.
But Ashe had a question, and he felt compelled to answer. Why, he wasn't too sure about that, really... Focusing on the planchette again, he began to push it as he tried his hardest to remember where he had died. He remembered the brief burst of pain and a white light, then darkness. He remembered Ashe... and that was who he had managed to attach to, if only to stick around a little. As he pushed the wooden piece, he tilted his head and smiled, wishing Ashe could see him the way he could see Ashe. Oh well, maybe someday, definitely someday.
B I G
O L D
O A K
O U T S I D E
W A L L S
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Post by Ashe on Oct 10, 2019 22:27:44 GMT -6
Ashe watched the candle flicker out of the corner of his eye. He wasn't sure of the importance of these candles, if it was just ambiance or if the candles somehow protected them from negative energies like demons and other nasty spirits. Ashe didn't really want to find out, and asking Jinx straight up would ruin the mood. He opened his mouth to jokingly scold Obs for goofing around and not focusing - what was it like to be a ghost anyway? Obs seemed to be enjoying himself so it couldn't be too bad! - when the planchette started to move again. He felt a tension, a concentration, as the wooden piece moved. He and Jinx spoke out loud, spelling the words as Obs reveled them.
"B.... I.... Big. O..." Ashe murmured. Soon enough, though the tension made it feel like forever, they had a phrase. "Big old Oak Outside Walls". Ashe frowned, thinking. There were a lot of trees out there; would he recognize a big old oak tree for what it was, amongst the others?
"North end? South end? East, west?" Ashe prompted. He wanted a few more details before he left it up to the chance that he would find it on his own. What if he couldn't contact Obs again? He would have to find every Oak tree around the city! Inyala found herself leaning forward, as if hanging on the answer as much as Ashe was.
1 3/5
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Post by Obsidion on Oct 11, 2019 7:28:04 GMT -6
Oh, good question. He sighed a little and the candles flickered again from his breath. He became amused a little again and then shook his head, he didn't have time for this if Ashe wanted answers. Where was it again...? He'd gone east, it had to be east, and it was the only oak tree in the area, someone must have planted it there. Frowning a little, he started to move the planchette again, wondering if there was a way to make him understand where it was without acting it out or something, that would be the worst. Obsidion sighed a little, the candles flickering again as he breathed deeply, and he tried to convey where it was. Reaching with one hand, he touched Ashe on the head, hoping to impart a picture of a lone oak tree sitting by itself out east of the walls, not too far out or anything, just kind of... there. There had been a lightning strike there when he had last seen it as well, and tried to push the picture into Ashe's head.
E A S T
A L L
A L O N E
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