A Mage's Counsel (Mages/Open)

[Sectos Barker]

"Uh, an old Tome particularly owned by a Mage named Taraneus."

Sectos would smile and scratch the back of his head. He was honest about where he fucked up at least, and he was good at note keeping. He was pushed a little by his curious nature wanting to know more about one of the first ever spellbooks made by a Mage.

[Preston Salabim]

"Trapped. And the creatures would be from the Shadow Realm."

He'd say picking up one of the books deep in his pile, flipping through it.

"Can you describe what happened exactly?"

[Allison Kazim]

Ali frowned at the mention of the name, certain she'd heard tale of the mage being a prime example in classes of the risks of certain types of mana use, but Preston has the book and the brain, so she looks at Sectos with curiosity as they waited for an answer!

[Sectos Barker]

"Well let's see... I heard about the antique museum with artifacts and such from the war and decided to check it out. Lot's of artwork and cool stuff. Mmm, but I was the Tome first, and tried to feel it's aether. It then activated these runes and made everyone itch. Starting in the arms and then spreading quickly to the rest of the body. Creatures started moving around inside of people and bursting from their bodies in this ink stuff and blood."

He'd fold his arms.

"I then grabbed this crystal and decided to trap all the energy and creatures inside of it. It was a gamble on if I could rewrite the crystal to do so or not. Or if it would trap the entire museum its self in it. There was a moment... Everything seemed frozen and a voice spoke to me, but I could definitely sense his presence. He seemed to be narrating something that vaguely represented what I was doing... He didn't really react to my presence until I directly addressed him. Then everything went back to normal... Though, what sticks out to me is when I cut my arm breaking the glass to get the Tome, there was ink and blood."

[Preston Salabim]

Preston frowned but nodded. It was surprising that Sectos was alive.

"Runic Plague. It is a very advanced spell in the Dark arts. He must have used it as a trap to prevent another mage from opening his spellbook. Clever, but deadly."

He'd set his book down, opened to a page with a drawing of the creatures that Sectos had seen bursting out of people.

"It was likely set to react to how we channel our mana. Which is why there were no special protections in place because they wouldn't know to do it. The spell uses the ink inside of the book and spreads it like a swarm through an area, infecting everyone and everything it touches. From there it draws on the ambient aether of whatever it infects into a summoning spell. Using the infected and their life energy or other available aether it opens a portal to the Dark Realm within it. That would be where the creatures came from. Though it is impossible to say for sure since the book is empty now."

Unfortunately.

"It's an impressive failsafe."

[Allison Kazim]

"IF there was more than one crystal, that probably helped as well." Ali was impressed and horrified in equal parts. A clever fail-safe to keep those who shouldn't from reaching for the secrets, but the art itself was normally unstable. She tried not to shudder at the thought of something bursting out of her during that.

"It almost sounds like the voice you heard may have been part of it, if it narrated to you. For the most part." Another frown. "Do you still bleed the mixture?"

[Sectos Barker]

"That does sound impressive and those are the creatures I saw."

Sectos wondered if Ali's assumption had to do with why the extra crystals were exploding.

"I haven't seen any ink in my wound since cleaning it."

He would lift his right index finger which had a talon like point from his magical research and pierce his left forearm with it to draw a little blood to see if ink also came out. He'd rather not mess with the other wound if he could help it.

[Preston Salabim]

There would be no ink. Which Preston would know, as he was already shaking his head.

"No, if he was still bleeding black he would be dead by now. The runic infection has passed. Likely burned up by the amplified Aether afforded to you by the Crystals. If I had to take my guess. You were very fortunate."

Dumb luck.

[Allison Kazim]

"Fortunate, indeed." Ali held shirt away from her to fold it on the table away from teh books before handing it back to Sectos. She hadn't been sure if teh crystals had made things better or worse from the tale; apparently it had been for the better.

[Sectos Barker]

Sectos would chuckle at the comments remembering something.

"My father says fortune favors the dumb in extreme circumstances. I think I understand the saying more now."

He would accept the shirt back and tilt his head a bit at it being folded, but would smile and thank Ali.

"I appreciate the insight into what happened. However, the large crystal here is my next step in this puzzle. I don't know what it did originally, as I had to quickly rework it to do what I needed at the time. However, if those creatures are trapped inside, or if investigating the crystal re-enacts the very curse I came across... Do you know of any safe spaces or places I could look into it at? I would rather not bother my father with this."

[Preston Salabim]

"May I?"

Preston would hold out his hand for the Crystal.

[Allison Kazim]

Ali doesn't interrupt, curious to see what the blue blood will do or find! But also trying not to seem too curious.

[Sectos Barker]

At this Sectos hesitated momentarily, but he suspected the noble mage knew what he was doing and handed the crystal over to Preston. He really wanted to talk to them and ask them about things other than thsi stuff, but he had to stay on task for this.

[Preston Salabim]

The crystal fell easily into Preston's hand before his eyes widened and his pupils grew until they filled his eyes completely. His hand dropped the crystal as if it had shocked him, his body knocking back toppling out of the chair as he clutched his chest in pain, staggering to breathe.

[Allison Kazim]

She'd been expecting an explanation, probably spiced with a sense of being talked down to. Instead, the other mage fell out of his chair as if he'd been struck by something, and Ali roe to her feet as Preston dropped the crystal and fell over. And stayed down.

"Are you alright?" Blue blood or not, the battle mage made her way towards the Preston and crouching beside him, sparing only a moment for a serious look at Sectos as before she did so, trying to decide if he'd done something to the crystal.