Banishment PV Professors

The enemy was here. Without warning, it had latched itself onto one of the professors and mercilessly swallowed him whole. The darkness consumed him, like a toad would catch a fly. Caradoc knew what was to come next. As the rope around his chest released and catapulted him against a wall, his body instinctively bundled together. Something would bite down hard into his hand as he tried to shield his face. Rolling away, the professor tried to find his way back. Two more slashes seemed to cut right past his face and leg, a few lost strands of hair and a scratch was all he suffered from them. Where was his wand? Why was he not fighting back? The Head of Hufflepuff did not seem able to find it. In his struggle it seemed he had dropped it. His hand would aimlessly search the stone floor for a slender wooden hilt. Too late.

Unyielding and without warning, the darkness would slam down into the professor. Piercing right through his leg and breaking the stone underneath, a hellish scream would bellow from Caradoc's lungs. His hand lashed out wildly into the air as desperation struck. "Incen-" A bright light would blind his vision, causing his eyes to shut down tight as he turned away from his salvation. He was never alone, not last time, not now.

Ripping the shadows apart, sunlight would break through the room. @Hjørdis Jensen would not see her Hufflepuff counterpart die today. A horde of spiders, centipedes, snakes, rats, ... all made of shadow would disperse. Only the traces of her previously cast spell would remain. In the bright light, she would find a set of golden footsteps similar to the ones they found the last time they were here. However, now there seemed to be a set of smaller ones next to them? Caradoc's eyes would flash crystal blue as he faced the light, trying to see who was coming. One such thing would be an incoming spell from @River Jemari. As quick as his body allowed him, the Head of Hufflepuff reached out. A bright cord of light spun itself around his arm and instantly pulled him towards the staircase. His body sliding across the tiles towards the light.

No one would likely forget the scene that was about to follow. For those in the front there would be nothing they could do, no one was near enough to reach him. @Marcus Iwasaki grabbed Nora's arm the moment he saw her move towards the breaking shadows. They might be chased away, but the path was not safe. And how right he would prove himself to be...@Artemis Vernatis and @Gargott Dunaid, both friends to the Irishman that lay wounded below, would rush to his aid only for a fizzling sound of three spells to surprise all three professors at the bottom of the stairs.


Bombarding down into the hall and with a scorching flame following soon after the opening at the bottom steps would crackle and break. The groundskeeper would be smashed backwards into the wall while the Charms professor struggled to keep his footing. It was his shield charm that ultimately kept him from harm this time. The shattered stonework would be black and covered in dust and amongst the rubble would be a huffing and puffing Caradoc. Breathing and coughing dust as he sat forzen and unable to move, covered under a blanket of rubble. Who knew what @Solomon Lear, @Maya Galim and @Rosalind Kibitzer were thinking upon seeing this scene before them. At least @Elaine Pendrast would make sure the largest group of professors was out of potential harm.

After the sudden betrayal of your boss, no one could really blame @Ivar Eide for retreating. Shuffling backwards, the others would see the chuckling figure of Ivar disappear into nothing. Not even professor @Zahid al-Benghazi ibn Masoud's glowing wand would reveal the other's location. While @Béatrice Lydursdattir might have another light poke her eye out, the candy she was having certainly proved itself to be of a fine taste. It would have been a long time ago she could recall herself enjoying such a sweet sweet tasting piece of candy. How nice.

Could anyone prepare themselves more than @Kateri Karr? Likely not. She would be the paragon of preparation tonight. Her stance, her attitude the way she peered across the room. All about her was telling anyone who would lay eyes on her that this woman was as prepared as it gets. In fact, she could rest assured another was likely taking her example to heart and preparing himself a little more as well. @Aleksander Ostrowski calmed down and came to his sense. Closing his eyes and listening intently, sniffing the multitude of aromas filling the air. Yelling, the shuffling of feet across wet damp stone, perfume, sweat, sulphur, stone cracking, skittering, and... a...

Kid. Yes, the potions professor could hear a child. A soft whimper coming from below. Had it been the flight of darkness that offered the little one a chance for escape? There was a deep deep stench, rot, coming from down there. Something was ill there. She sounded so afraid. Alone. Without him realising his elbow would brush past Rosalind's. Upon which the elder seer's gaze would flip upwards, leaving only the white of her eyes to show. Her head hung backwards, the woman's body began to shake. Flashes, clothes, dripping of water that echoed below, roots, a child, a child hiding from the old lady. "Mum? Why are you not here?" The child's voice would be a whisper to herself. You find her lost in a dark corner. But you can not reach out. Something in that basement needs your help. And it is not Caradoc Browne...

Caradoc Browne: 1400/2000

Gargott Dunaid: 1150/1300

When she had found her candy, she could feel between her fingers, that this one was especially juicy and squishy. With a grin she threw it upwards into her mounth, where she caught it first try. The spicy sourness made her smile in delight. While she chewed a bursting light enlightened the hallway, forcing her to avert her head. Only seconds after that, she heard the headmaster yell casting a spell with murderous intend. Multiple of her colleagues shouted something, and Béatrice tried to see what was going on. They all aimed at the hallway infront of them. Béatrice was shocked to see a Bombarda flying into the distance, that she forgot to chew her delicious candy.

This was going down, this was no good at all, and she could do nothing but stand in the way. She felt a gash of wind so she protected her face. Fortunatelly, nothing else happened. Somebody had saved them.

No, this was absolutely no good at all! They should retreat and plan their actions anew. She felt they were absolutely no prepared. If this continued, they'd be killed or kill each other. She slowely made her way backwards, keeping her eyes fixated at the hallway. Her walkingstick was designed to help her move foreward, not backward, so it took her time. She passed other professors, until she reached the stairs. She turned around and as fast as she could, she climbed up the stairs.

Action: leaves the hallway and thread

"Well that was smooth..." Caradoc leaned his head back against a large piece of stone, giving the entire hallway a side-eye. Groaning as he tried to shift his leg from under some smaller pieces of rubble and dust, Doc's knee revealed itself. A black open wound would show where the joint was meant to be. Dark veins seemed to be branching out from its centre. He knew what it meant. As his hand reached out, his fingers would find the surrounding skin and gently tap it. Almost no sense of touch came through, just like his old wounds of his previous encounter with the darkness. Sharp flashes of pain swirled up inside, causing the Head of Hufflepuff to occasionally jolt up.

With gritted teeth, Caradoc pushed himself to sit straight. His hand would hover above his stretched out leg as a low grunt escaped his breath. "Ferula" His voice would sound a bit weak, but the man was slowly gaining strength. While he wouldn't deny having suffered some extra damage just a few moments ago, he hadn't drawn his final breath yet. Looking up towards the stairs, he'd try to find her. More than likely he could expect more than one glare tonight. Instead, he found Art to be standing closest to him. "Evenin' pal... I think I got myself a gammy leg."

He didn't think it, he knew his leg wasn't to be fixed right away. Slowly the gears in his head started turning as he realised some others might get funny ideas about this injury. Caradoc did not like the idea
where any of them would mess with his leg. "Now don't you eejits* get any funny ideas. 'Cause I know some of you clearly aren't the full shilling." He would glare up towards the group of professors at the top, he'd find the one that sprouted such a brilliant idea later that night.
*Eejit = complete fool

Action: Cast Ferula, dissuade anyone from messing with his leg.

The new Nurse that she barely knew said something in French. Hjørdis spoke a few languages. French was not one of them. She could roughly guess what he was saying by the similarities. But with everything happened, she ignored it.

The sunlight from her wand overpowered the room, causing her to flinch. It was a tad bit blinding but she had it pointed away from her and into the darkness - in the hopes of destroying the shadow that had grabbed Caradoc in the first place. The room was full of shadows in the form of spiders, centipedes, snakes, rats... They took so many forms but they had one weakness: they dispersed in the light. The dungeons were in a condition that would make her shudder.

She spotted him. He was alright. It was fin- He looked hurt. Hjørdis stepped forward, in an attempt to rush to him. He was cursed, wasn't he? He had gone and gotten yet another bloody curse, didn't he?!

Everything happened so quickly. She heard the voices. Everyone was doing their own thing. Bombarda... Incendio... Spells getting called everywhere. Her eyes widened, "NO-" She called out to stop them but it was too late. Far too late. Everything was happening. She went to raise her wand, it was late but maybe, just maybe she could proteg- She was not moving. A hand gripped her wand arm, pulling her back, wait-

Everything happened far too quickly. Spells thrown right ahead of them - where she was moving into. Her heart pounded, still staring at the wall behind as someone grabbed her and turned her around. Caradoc's voice broke the silence. At the very least, he was conscious. She turned to look up. Her gaze falling on a Marcus holding her. He had pulled her back from the spells she was about to run into it, turning her slightly to prevent her from running right out.

He was right. He was smart. And she was grateful. At least, for a moment. Till she realised that others had not had the same. Her eyes widened as they went past his arm to see people in the rumble. At least they were conscious. Well, she had heard one of them.

Hjørdis quickly stepped out of his hold. Her eyes fell on the wand on the stairs. Different in design but made of the same wood as her own. She picked it up and moved towards the rumble, crouching down besides him. Caradoc seemed to be in his usual spirits. Judging by the fact that he was trying to be funny. He was met with a glare, of course "God damnit, Browne, tell me you didn't just add another to your collection," She glared despite the worry in her eyes, sincerely hoping that he did not just acquire yet another curse for the curse collection that he seemed to be really into. Of all of the weird hobbies that he had, this was most definitely her least favourite.

How many times was he planning on running head first into danger? How many curses did he want to gather?

It was not his fault. She knew that, she was just... mad. Worried and mad. The frown on her face made it clear as she observed his leg, holding out the wand for him, "Can you walk?" It did not look pleasant, to say the least. She searched back to see if the nurse that she was fairly sure she had heard earlier was around. They were going to need a healer, it would seem. They seemed far too much into the 'attack first, plan later' mindsight. "Friendly fire? Eh, it happens!" Mode. She had no idea where the spells came from but... she was pretty sure it was Lear's voice that she heard before it happened. This... was not a good start.

As she wondered what the hell to do, she looked back at Marcus and gave him a nod of her head. It was not much but it was her way of thanking him. In her panic, she almost ran straight into a danger that she could not have prevented or stopped others from getting into. He caught her before she did that. She was unscratched right now because of him and she knew it. It did not make her feel better, not in the least. Others were still hurt. But it was still something to be grateful for. He was able to remain calm and careful - two traits she appreciated - when she could not. His reaction brought her helped her to calm a little.

Her eyes that looked far more silver than usual in this light fell onto the traces of the tracking spell that she had cast earlier. There were footsteps similar to the last time. But... there was another set. Smaller ones. It filled her with certain dread. A student? It could not be... Everyone was cleared out of the castle over a month ago. These were more recent, right?

She frowned, "Did you see that?" She pointed out to anyone listening or paying attention, "These are similar to what we saw last time. I don't recall the smaller set, though," She added, unfamiliar with them. In fact, she was pretty sure that she had only seen the larger set earlier but... did she miss them or were these new? They had to follow them... But could they even get anywhere with such a group?

ACTION: Give Caradoc back his wand, and scold him & point out the footprints

Stamina: 15 | Evasion: 9 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 20 | Arcane Power: 10 | Accuracy: 14
Abilities: Sixth Sense | Evasive Maneuvers | Perfectionist | Poison Resistance [others pending]

Outfit of the day

Maya could feel the ground shaking from the spell cast by Solomon Lear. Rocks, both small and large, began to fall from the ceiling and some hit Caradoc as he was making his way to safety. Maya wondered what was Lear's thought process for using a spell such as his in a dungeon.

The gash on his leg looked beyond repair. In the muggle world, he would need to be rushed to a hospital and need a blood transfusion. But in the wizarding world, it is not the case. Magic could heal all. Luckily, there was a healer that joined last minute as Caradoc was only seconds of being swept away. The healer was new-- Maya had never met him before.

There were a lot of new hires that the Head of Houses had made to help with the safety of the castle. They had to be sure that security was at its best. But with all the new faces that were around on a daily basis, perhaps it made sense for someone like Lear to think a Hag was among us. Granted, he based it off appearance, but someone could be the enemy.

As @Caradoc Browne was finding his bearings, Maya noticed a professor turn the other way and up the stairs. It was @Béatrice Lydursdattir, the Ancient Runes professor. She left the minute Caradoc was "saved" by whatever it was at the bottom--- darkness? Maya wondered if she knew something that we all didn't.

Darkness was all that Maya could come up with. That was what pulled Caradoc. But darkness had many forms of weaknesses-- the most was being light. Maya looked at many professors with their wands on. Perhaps that wasn't the kind of light that was needed wasn't one that stemmed from the wands, but perhaps it was true fire itself. The heat and burn of fire could be a weakness of the darkness.

Whatever was down there, standing at the top wasn't going to get them anywhere. Maya, obviously fearful, wanted to keep going to get it all over with. But before she could step forward into the darkness, she needed light. Wand light wasn't going to make the cut. She was going to bring about her muggle culture.

Maya, conditioning herself in her muggle ways, Maya looked around for something to grab. She wanted to make a torch of her own. She needed to fine either bones, sticks or something long and slender that will help her with the body of the torch. Once found, she would tear her robe at the hem and tie it around the makeshift torch and light it on fire, bringing natural light into the dungeons.

As Maya was walking around finding something to use as a torch, she overheard @Hjørdis Jensen mention there were footprints on the floor. What did that even mean? Was someone here before them? Was it a Hag?

ACTION: Look for bones, sticks or something that can be used as a torch.

Reducio

Stamina: 11 || Evasion: 7 || Strength: 7 || Wisdom: 20 || ArcPower: 15 || Accuracy: 10

Currently applying/pending for:
The Muggle Condition
Wandless Magic
Non-Verbal Magic

The French man was soon informed, not to the thanks of his colleagues, but by seeing first hand how a man came flying right back as there seemed to be a magical cord that pulled him back to the side of the dungeons the professors had claimed. On top of all that a small, ginger, man seemed to be flying towards the darkness, What is that?, JP couldn't say for sure. All he knew was that it certainly did not look like a broom. Another man was running after him it seemed. That in itself had been a mistake. A big one at that as someone had cast the explosion charm causing to be caught in the blast radius causing the small, ginger man to be thrown backwards. The other man had seemed to not get harmed. Either by sheer luck or a spell wasn't completely clear to him. They had been lucky that at least one of the professors had successfully shielded them from the explosion charm by not just anyone. Oh, no a beautiful looking woman had come and saved the day!

The newly appointed Nurse felt it was his duty to help those in need, so he pushed himself forward, but not before stopping at the beautiful professor who had just saved his life. Merci beaucoup, Madame.* That was quite spectacular., he flashed a quick smile at her before heading towards the injured professors. Immediately he started inspecting the patients. He needed to know what he was dealing with before he was going to jump to conclusions. His first patient was the small flying man. I'll just have a look at what you're ailing from. Can you follow my finger, please? The Keeper of Keys and Grounds seemed to be in order though the nurse couldn't say for sure he wasn't suffering even, if mildly, from a concussion. Besides that it was pretty clear he was suffering from some deep gashes and bruises. Well, then., JP proclaimed. It seems you'll live! He flashed a warm smile at his patient as he gave him a pat on the back. Oh, sorry about that... He put up his hands in an awkward manner. I just got excited is all! Episkey., the widow spoke as he made a dash through the air with his wand at Gargott.
After that he looked at his next patient. You sure you don't want me to look at that leg of yours? As he spoke he pointed at the limb.


*Merci beaucoup, Madame. = Thanks a lot, Miss.

Caradoc was being dragged into the very bowels of hell. Solomon was not going to let them take another, it would be a fate worse than death. The smiling hag would have to wait as the Headmaster wildly flung a spell with a dangerous concussive force into the darkness, there was only one purpose -- setting the young man free.

A blast of dust and stone, Caradoc would emerge alive. Well, perhaps for not much longer. It was his leg, it was cursed. The darkness had infested him and it was spreading. Branching outward from the site of injury, the man was infected with something more dire than a mere hex or curse. It was a form of dark, rudimentary magic that he had heard of before but only in rumor. Hags don't cast spells or make potions like a wizard does, there is no specific formula with a refined and purposeful result. They had similar skillsets, but each was refined by their personal perversions.

Their mortal sin.

They preyed upon the moral failings and the insecurities of their victims. However, that was only psychological. Their magic had a more sinister nature. The vile darkness was tangible. It had a life of its own. It changed people in an unnatural manner.

The darkness... Lear's eyes widened. How long had it been there? Did it just happen?

"It was the hag!" Solomon declared, laying blame at Ivar's feet. He turned back to where he had last seen the grinning Professor. He was gone. "She is here, somewhere," Lear insisted. "Reveal yourself foul creature!" Not being, he could care less what the Ministry Classified these fiends as. His wand still drawn, it was obvious that the headmaster was unhinged but was there an echo of truth to his words.

"Revelio!" Solomon cried. A word of power intended to reveal what was obscured by magic. To show him the hiding place of a hag. His plan was simple, linear. Find the hag. Defeat the hag. Force her to divulge the cure, the cure for the darkness. "She has to be here somewhere!" Solomon roared.

Abilities:
1 -- Evasive Maneuvers (10% auto-dodge)
2 -- Evasive Maneuvers (10% auto-dodge)
3 -- Spell Spread (can target a second target with spells with an increased critical fail chance and a bebuff to checks)
4 -- Monster Hunter (additional accuracy against non-humans)
5 -- Crucio (bad boy)
6 -- Imperio (bad boy)
7 -- Apparition (let's run away when not at Hogwarts)
8 -- Advanced Apparition (let's run away together when not at Hogwarts)

Stats
Sta| 8
Eva| 20
Str| 8
Wis| 9
Arc| 15
Acc| 15

Gargott soared through the air with his loyal companion, Bernice. Determined to save his friend and former dorm mate. Yet, before he was able to perform the rescuing attempt, it would seem his colleagues would undermine him. "Bombarda Maxima!" A simple incantation, yet one that could have dire effects. The Part-Goblin caught by complete surprise was suddenly blasted from his Warhammer and crashed against the wall. The pain was the only thing he felt for what could've been minutes but probably were only mere seconds. Not able to collect his thoughts or do anything he just laid there for a little longer. Yet, suddenly a man neared him. Someone he hadn't met before and before he could say or do anything a finger was being waved in his face.

The Keeper of Keys and Grounds regained control over himself once again. "What... W-Who are you?!" Was all he could say as he tried to stand back on his feet. A feeling of renewal washed over him as the French man healed his wounds. "Thank you! I- uh... Owe ya one, I suppose..." The Part-Goblin said a bit reluctantly. Whoever this man was he had helped him and that meant he had good intentions... Or at least be trusted on some level. Either way, he didn't feel comfortable owing to someone.

Fear took control as the large man panicked over Bernice. "Bernice!" Waddling over to his trusted Warhammer as he dropped to his knees when he arrived. "Bernice, are you alright?! Let me have a look at you!" Meaty fingers gently picked up the leather handle as another hand was placed under the head itself. A single tear made its way down his cheek as an almost non-existent scratch was seen on the metal. "Oh you poor thing! Once we're back at the cabin I'll get that out..." Leaning Bernice back on his right shoulder the ginger man looked over to the group located with Caradoc. "Good to see you're still with us, Caradoc! Not thanks to any of them..." Whilst nodding his head up the stairs to the group that was standing there.

A clap in his hands and a fire formed in his left hand, whilst his right hand held Bernice. "Well, then it seems its now or never... These Hags seem to be prepared for intruders, well let's show them who's castle this is, ey?" "Lumos Maxima!" Gargott exclaimed in his head. Hoping the light emanating from his wand would keep the darkness at bay he took a final deep breath and moved towards the darkness. Hoping Caradoc or Hjordis would show him where they had encountered trouble last time.

Action: Casting Lumos Maxima and face the Darkness in search of the rune Hjordis mentioned earlier.

Rosalind cursed under her breath after firing off that hasty spout of flames, taking in a breath through her gritted teeth. She was being careless. Of course, the fact that it had been Caradoc of all people to tumble into her flames made her feel a bit better about it, but still - there was no need to make herself out as any more suspicious than she had already been. Fortunately for the Seer's guilty conscience, her mind would be rapidly pulled toward other thoughts as the potions professor brushed past, Rosalind's whole body tensing as she was suddenly gripped by the Sight.

Her head hung backward unnaturally, as though she were stunned, her wand shaking in her hand as she gripped it tight, knuckles going white. Some might recognize it as a visions, while others surely thought she was possessed. Something about this place had brought the sight back to her - but her visions had been terrible. A few breathless words slipped past the professor's lips as she found her senses again. "A girl," she murmured, her grip loosening on her wand - the wood nearly slipping out of her fingers before she caught her strength again. "There's a girl down here."

She said it with unusual conviction compared to her usual prophecies. There was something quite certain about it. An intuition given to her by the Sight, maybe, or some other magical force that was propelling her to go deeper, further down the steps. "There was water, roots..." To those who hadn't witnessed her episode, this would seem to be the rambling of a madwoman - breathless, hasty mutterings, as the woman reached up to hold her head. What about the vision she had in the summer? What if this was a trick? She couldn't think about that - a child needed her help. "Be careful..."

action: Share some information and panic. Don't apologize for scorching Caradoc.

Alright, he took it back. This was beyond devolving quickly. They were off to an abysmal start, really. Half of him was filled with incredulity, the other was busy just reminding him to breathe. They were here to face the threat of a hag but so far their boss had been the most dangerous thing (well, person) they encountered today, possibly more so even than the darkness that had dragged Caradoc away; not that they’d gotten far. He knew that life teaching at a Wizarding (boarding) school would be more dangerous than life teaching at a Muggle university but this was beyond…

“So. What is-“ He stopped to take a calming breath. “So what is our strategy here? … Do we have a strategy?” He dearly hoped they did. Otherwise this mission, endeavour, was a failure from the get-go. Movement in the corner of his eye made him think that the Runes professor might have the right idea. They could draw back and regroup, reassess, before they rushed in even more? Only… He took a step back then stopped – no one else seemed to follow her. (Where did the not-a-hag professor go?)

Footprints?

…

A girl?

Footprints, if he heard Nora correctly, would surprise him but he supposed they were a possibility in the dungeons. But a girl? School had let out for the holidays a month and a half ago, why would there be a girl down there? But the woman was the Divination professor and if she had the sight, they’d be fools to dismiss her words out of hand. “A girl? One in need of rescue or a hag in disguise?” He wasn’t sure which option would be worse.

Waiting for an answer (to either of his questions), he looked around if he could spot the mentioned footprints or something else.

Action(s): Ask questions and look for clues.