The Lady of the Wood Ravenclaw Murder Thread Finished

Interacting with | @Pericles Dralt | @Vladimir Athanatos | @Winnie Harper | Vaguely everyone, honestly
Open to interactions.

It was an unsettling repeat of last May, Ravenclaws streaming towards the Forbidden Forest. And yet, it was different: Where last year they had been sneaking after the member of their House who had, by popular vote, been declared shadiest, this year, they had been invited to come. Sort of.

It was a riddle, a play to the curiosity of those sorted into the House of Wit and Knowledge. Not the first one they had found this year, although the first time it had been hand-delivered in personal letters. The last one seemed to have warned them of Darkness. This one led them into the woods, promising no warning nor safety. Walking dead and danger. The forest. And yet, the lure of questions answered.

You'd think people would have learned, wouldn't make the same mistake twice. The woods had nearly killed them last year, would have if not for Professor Equinox and Professor Browne. But then, of course, there were reasons to go, anyway. Some hadn't been there, didn't know. Some might want to protect their friends. For some, their curiosity was simply too much to bear.

Whatever the reasons, Dealla sped up her steps as she saw others heading towards the forest as well. There was a certain assertiveness, calm self-confidence the teen had gained after the encounter with darkness in their common room earlier this year. She had handled herself fine back then, everyone had gotten out alive, if barely, without an adult coming to save them. Perhaps they could repeat the same today.

Thankfully, they didn't have to go further than the very edge of the woods before someone called their attention, and Dee frowned slightly. The black raven, had that referred to Vladimir? Blond and light-eyed, his looks weren't particularly dark. Yet, someone had apparently at least intended for them to follow his trail (again).

Pericles' question mirrored Dee thoughts. Clearly, Vladimir hadn't been the one asking them here. But if he hadn't, who had? "Who would want us to follow you, if you didn't?" she added to Pericles' questions, then more quietly, not directed at the older Ravenclaw, she added, "And did they mean to help or harm us?"

Wary, she frowned at Sylvain's proposal. Facing the Darkness together? It seemed... presumptuous, to think they would be able to defeat whatever was lurking here. Escaping alive, twice, wasn't any indication they stood a chance. Plus, Vladimir had never seemed the most trustworthy fellow around. Dee hadn't come for a fight, she'd come for information. Secrets, they had been promised. Answers, if they were lucky. Vladimir had never seemed inclined to give them, however. She couldn't shake the feeling that the black raven was someone else.

Winnie posed another interesting question. Her letter had been crumpled up, found outside their cabin, her name scratched out. "It seems that someone doesn't want you here," she replied, a slight smile on her lips. "Even less than us, apparently." But why? "Perhaps trying to protect you? The woods are dangerous. Things live out here... the trees themselves try to kill."

There were several students around asking what was going on, why they were here, and ah, yes, Ravenclaw curiosity. Even without having been involved, the small letter was enough to draw them out here.

Dee didn't know much, there were students far more heavily involved, but what she knew, she was willing to share. "A couple Ravenclaws went into the forest a bit over a year ago, also following him, although we lost him pretty quickly," she explained. She reasoned that was why only Ravenclaws had gotten the invitation, a macabre replay of events. Perhaps also connected to what had happened in spring? "Dark things have been going on at the school, hags apparently live in these woods. We were attacked by their dolls and the trees last time we went." Plus a huge spider and some fires, but the fires hadn't been anyone's fault but their own. "There were odd things going on... I think we heard someone running in the woods, we never figured out if it was Vladimir. And someone mentioned smelling gingerbread... But the castle isn't safe either. Remember when our common room was destroyed a couple months ago? We were attacked then, too, by spiders made of Darkness. Students are getting cursed after such encounters." A badly kept secret, it had happened to Slytherin, too. "Someone had searched the common room." Her focus returned to Vladimir, who always seemed to be in the middle of things going wrong. "Took something, too. Do you know what it was?"

Stats
Sta 6 | Eva 11 | Str 3 | Wis 10 | Arc 6 | Acc 10

Evasive Maneuvers | Charmer | Perfectionist
Allies: All Ravenclaws except Vladimir

"It is dangerous, which is precisely why you shouldn't be here either."

Pericles announced. He really had no idea what was in there. He was right 'dangerous' however was an understatement,

"Just stay back," Vladimir repeated with a sick tension in his voice. There was no wavering but he did not make eye contact with Pericles. He did not want to know. He did not want to see.

"Vladimir, please... something is wrong."

"I know," he replied, his jaw clenched slightly as he fought hard to swallow. "You're not supposed to be here." He did not summon the Prefect, not that paying the consequence of walking where he was supposed to would serve as a powerful deterrent.

"If you didn't 'invite' us, who did?"

"Someone who likes to play games," Vladimir answered but gave no information because he had none to give. He felt his stomach perform a flip. He had his suspicions regarding whom but it was an enemy he was unwilling to face. Someone was taking sick pleasure in bringing up ghosts. Forcing him to face and iterate what he proudly sought to keep private. "If you follow, if the woods don't take you, the darkness will," he warned. "I can't protect you," or anyone for that matter. An utter travesty, there was no positive spin in inviting him yet there was someone that took sick pleasure from these moments.

“P-pericles?”

A girl called out to the pale Prefect, the white wizard. Not that there was an aggressive posturing from the older Ravenclaw, it mattered not as the girl ran in front of Pericles.

“D-don’t even think to hurt my pe- friend.“

"Not intending on hurting your Pericles," he replied finishing for her Auroura's intended statement. the accusation should have hurt but he had grown used to it. "If I wanted to hurt him I would just take five steps to my right," he claimed. What was to the right? The fringe of the wood, where the cut grass became untamed wood. "I strongly encourage you to restrain him," he predicted. It was unlikely Pericles would allow Vladimir to enter the forest alone if at all he theorized but kept the sum of his thoughts to himself as the gears in his head started to turn. He could not delay his travels.

“Why are we here?”

Another girl arrived, all Ravenclaws. They already knew him by a reputation that preceded him, likely recognized his face from their shared living space. "Looks like a lure," he announced, stating the obvious. It was a rather simple trap, Vladimir cracked his neck and the pop of his vertebrae could be heard from several feet away. Another pair would arrive, also Ravenclaw. He spied them out of the corner of his eye and he could feel the prickle, the creeping dread.

A former Prefect would join the swelling mass and he would prepare for the inevitable - a fight. His hand would reach into his jacket pocket and he would fish for his wand. 24.8 cm chestnut wood and dragon heartstring, few considered the meaning of such a device and why such a wand would choose him. Yes, seemingly ordinary but it was on the short-side. A wand capable of darkness, a fondness for luxury and a willingness to overlook how such material wealth was obtained. There was a flamboyance in his father, a likely shared legacy from father to son in terms of enjoying the finer things. They had also seen it, his willingness to do wrong if there was a great enough a benefit but the wand did not suggest a cruel, dark wizard.

Sylvain Wilt would push his way through the growing throng and recover a... book? Well, not exactly, it did not look like he was holding anything in his hand when it was closed. Vladimir's journal. Of course the Ravenclaw did not need to see you. "It was you" the older boy nearly hissed as the former Prefect gained Vladimir's attention.

"No more secrets Vlad."

Vladimir whipped out his hand and pointed it at Sylvain. "I agree Sylvain Wilt, a product of all things you hate." His steel blue eyes would burn into Sylvain.

Sylvain would feel a throbbing, a terrible drum inside his head. His heart? No it was uneven. A knock? A knock at his door. A door he should not open. A knock that would shake the walls. A knock that grew stronger

"He who hates being followed or chased. Make an enemy of him by touching what is his." His brow furrowed as he dug, as he tried to smash the door in. But no, a wall. A broken bettering ram. A rush of copper and a flash of blood would leak from his nare. His and Sylvain's, Vladimir would quickly wipe the drizzle from his own upper lip and raise his hand to the sun.

"You're not as alone as you make yourself out to be."

"Says the boy holding my stolen diary that was taken the day my bed was set ablaze and I was beaten and robbed," his faith was rocked in the boy. Of course it would be, not that either of them realized a key facet of that journal or that everything was going according to plan. Even this moment, this altercation here.

"If you truly want to save us from whatever darkness lurks the castle grounds, then you need to teach us what you know."

Teach? Vladimir's eyes widened and he gave the teen an incredulous expression. You have to be kidding me. "You rob me and then expect me to help you?"

"Besides, we both know you can't stop all of us."

Considering the circumstances it sounded more a threat than a friendly chide. "You would need thrice your numbers to hold your own against me," he defied.

A couple of late-comers would arrive, claiming similar ignorance. River and Bloom. Outnumbered, indeed. Outmatched, not really.

"Let us join you and face this darkness together. Once and for all."

Vlad scoffed as he swung his arm holding the wand in a large arching motion towards the woods. "After you," there was a reason he said to keep out. There was no reasoning, they likely knew already and he was tired of playing these games. He stuffed his wand in his pants pocket and peeled off his jacket. His shirt was soaked with sweat that clung to his form. Like a moist second skin, he pulled off his shirt as well top reveal the extent of the dark marks that covered his body. They had reached his core a long time ago.



He let the soaked shirt slap the ground.

"Who would want us to follow you, if you didn't?"

A callback to the previous conversation before he had become agitated. If he did not summon them, then who. The second time he was asked this same question. He would answer differently this time. "Guessing Wyllt," Vladimir asserted with a nod of his head as he reached into his pocket and drew a small blade. nothing substantial, a lockpicking knife like the ones someone would get from Hogsmeade.

"And did they mean to help or harm us?"

"Kill you," he muttered as he opened and closed the blade twice with the flick of his wrist as if to test it. The blade was sharp, small and clean, it was not a weapon, it was a tool.

Winnie Harper, the latest diversion, sick interest of his cousin. One that Vladimir was wholly unaware of, the fact that she had the same letter only supported the notion that this was a trap. One for Vlad or them was another question entirely. The part he found relevant was why exclude that girl if it was true what she claimed. "You, girl." He looked over at her for a long moment. He did not have a friendly face. "Winnie Harper, second year Ravenclaw," a youngling. "Cursed?" No, not her. "From an honored house?" A powerful family the sender fears? No, the girl was immediately adjacent to a muggle. Even if she did not answer him verbally, he was taking the answers.

"It seems that someone doesn't want you here," Dealla offered the same conclusion Atahantos had come to.

"Meaning I want her here," he announced with a sniff. He took a look about himself and back at the castle. He wondered if they were being watched, he believed that they were but they would be wise to remain out of his reach if they were not Sylvain Willt.

"Even less than us, apparently."

Well, they wanted them here. Whoever they were. They gave a house known for their wit a simple riddle that gave them an obvious place to show up. Individually any one of them was in possession of the brainpower to solve the riddle and show but they were given the chance to collaborate. Give a simple challenge that they would not fail to accomplish, fresh from a simple victory their ego ripe...

"Perhaps trying to protect you? The woods are dangerous. Things live out here... the trees themselves try to kill."

"Only today," he claimed. A wood that always fought would be too noticeable.

"A couple Ravenclaws went into the forest a bit over a year ago, also following him, although we lost him pretty quickly. Dark things have been going on at the school, hags apparently live in these woods. We were attacked by their dolls and the trees last time we went. There were odd things going on... I think we heard someone running in the woods, we never figured out if it was Vladimir. And someone mentioned smelling gingerbread... But the castle isn't safe either. Remember when our common room was destroyed a couple months ago? We were attacked then, too, by spiders made of Darkness. Students are getting cursed after such encounters. Someone had searched the common room. Took something, too. Do you know what it was?"

"My blood," he replied. All of it. Something at least some of them were likely aware of. He was wrong in this case, but not wholly. His blood was stolen in the owlery, an intimate assault where the contents of his veins were extracted. Just not the blood in the jars, the blood he had squirreled away in several hidey holes.


"And it starts," just in time for the shifting forest. The snarled roots would begin to unearth, the breaches would sway and with a great yawning motion the trunk of the great oaks would bend. He would pull his pocket watch from his pocket and frown, three minutes late. His watch was running fast. Strange, it was off again.

A vine would snap out of the wood and flick the air a few inches from Vladimir. Unable to reach just yet, that would soon change. "The woods have awoken, they will skewer you and take you into the earth if you are not careful. If not, as soon as I am snared, a locus swarm of dark spiders will proliferate the area." That was the challenge, getting what they wanted when what they wanted was a terrible idea.

"I am sure none of you will make it," he admitted. Even the thief Sylvain. And a first of many steps, he would walk into the wood [unless prevented].

Thread enter.

Wand already drawn, Thomas approached the group as stealthily as he could. The Ravenclaw was silent, almost too silent, and with careful steps as he approached the forest's end he hoped he'd remain undetected. Not because he sought to cause any there harm, at least not now, but having a hidden ally could do wonders for any enemies looking to ambush the group. He was late to the conversation but tried to absorb as much information as he could. The boy was a sponge, soaking up facts and observing the environment with the aim of staying in the shadows. If no one knew Thomas was there, if somehow he managed to remain hidden, there would be no proof he knew anything. For all they knew, whoever they may have been, Tom didn't get the note at all. His exit was inconspicuous, he was a shy and quiet kid and could explain the behavior away as being overwhelmed by the social situation.

Yes, that would be his story, if questioned. I just can't deal with noise. Not an untrue statement, but surely not an explanation.

At this point, the conspiracies Thomas was spinning may have been starting to eat away at him. The elaborate webs connecting things that no one else saw (obviously because they weren't as smart, no other reason) seemed to be endless and overreaching everything. Who could Tom trust? Himself, and no one else. Callie had been cursed, and now relied on the very people who may well have cursed her. Until the Ravenclaw gathered more information, he had to keep her in the dark too.

Thomas would take any measures necessary to remain hidden if such was possible. If not, he'd walk up silently, making use of his diminutive stature to remain relatively concealed. His footsteps were quiet, in part due to his weight though the rest could be attributed to deliberately watching his steps. They won't know what hit them.

Action: Sneaking up, if possible
Abilities: Evasive Maneuvers II, Statistically Relevant
Stats: Sta 5 || Eva 12 || Str 1 || Wis 11 || Arc P 10 || Acc 10

───Like the ray of pure sunlight she was, Dee Prince was present to offer Winnie a possible explanation. The one for the letter happened to leave her a bit confused, however, although it was accompanied with a smile from the prefect. "Who wouldn't want me here? Why me?" She asked with knit brows. It didn't make sense. "Most of the people I know are here." Her fellow Ravenclaws, that was. Who else would want to protect her? Jack Warren, perhaps? He was her childhood friend. There was also Matt, of course. "...Except for Jack and Mattie." She continued her thought out loud. "Wait... You..." She would gesture towards Vladimir, "You know... You know Matt, I think..." Her brow wrinkled as she tried to think, to search through the thick fog for an explanation. It would not come. She instead gave the older boy a look of bewilderment. "... I can't... I can't remember. My head hurts..."

"I've heard whispers among the students but I wasn't certain what was true and what was gossip," Winnie admitted. Her throat felt dry. She did remember the common room attack. She had happened to be away during that time. A blessing in disguise, but she couldn't allow anyone to get hurt. Her fellow Ravens were the closest thing she had to a family away from home.

Tense exchanges. Blood. And the sight of a mark on Vladimir's chest. Dark tendrils seemed to snake their way along his flesh. A curse? No, the darkness. Whatever that truly was. Winnie would take a step back, a gasp caught in her throat. No, no... This wasn't good. An understatement to be certain, but...

Then Vladimir spoke to her and her fiery spirit floundered momentarily. He was rather intimidating. Plus, he was carrying a knife. Merlin, she should have stayed in her cabin and wrote poetry. "... Yes?" She managed to keep her voice from shaking, and her shoulders straightened as she took a few steps forward. The lack of a friendly face had never stopped her before. "That's correct..." She confirmed. Cursed? Only with a lack of common sense and poor social skills.

Family? Wizards never meant muggle family, so she knew he meant her wizarding side. "... Harper and Hemlock." Harper really meant nothing. Pure but their curiosity for the muggle world had caused them to be shunned. Perhaps Hemlock meant something. Prominent in certain circles, old wealth that could last several lifetimes. But they were dying line and Winnie was 'tainted'. Not that any of this meant anything to Winnie, especially now that her memories of meeting her Great Grandmother had been lost.

"What does that have to do with the forest and not wanting me here?" She would finally question. Great, were the trees racist too?

Wait, he wanted her here? Why? She blinked over at the blond, her confusion written on her face. "... I... I'm not sure I could be of any use to you."

Oh. And now the trees were moving.

Wait a minute... The trees were MOVING!

Winnie stared with her mouth agape as the monstrous creature began it's journey. It was something of legends and myths itself. Stories told to unsuspecting children as they were being tucked into their bed, safe from the world of magic and whatever these... things were. She really should have stayed at the camp.

She fixed her gaze back on Vladimir, "Wait!" She called out to him. He had answers. He knew why her name was crossed out, knew why the trees were suddenly walking. She made a decision. A rather rash and stupid decision; she would run to follow him.

Action: Running after Vladimir.
Stats: Stamina: 6 | Evasion: 6 | Strength: 7| Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 7
Abilities: Healing Sage & Muggle Condition

Interacting with@Dealla Prince & @Winnie Harper
Mentions: @Vladmir Athanatos & Ravenclaw Buddies
Open to all interactions

Finally, an answer. There were so many Ravenclaws like Bloom who were confused as to why they were in the Forbidden Forest because a piece of paper told them to, and why Vladmir was intense.

Bloom walked up to Dealla and listened carefully to her words. The fact that this had been going on for over a year and Bloom had no idea was shocking to her. Or should it not be? Bloom did not connect with anyone for a long time, and finally, she was making friends and look where it ended up? In danger it looks like.

"If Hags live in the woods and you were once attacked by trees and dolls, why the hell are we here? Can't we have a conversation, I don't know, by the lake?" she asked Dealla and anyone else who would listen to her, pointing to the direction of the lake. Perhaps it would be safer for them to be there than in the forest itself where anything can happen.

She remembered hearing about the common rooms being trashed... They cleaned it up quickly that Bloom was never really involved. They took something? According to Vladmir, it was his blood.

What the living hell was going on...? Bloom was feeling a little anxious.

The ground began to rattle. Was it moving? No... The trees... Bloom couldn't believe her eyes. This is what socializing and friendship got her. A perhaps near death experience. Bloom looked at Dealla and saw that she ran after Vladmir. Was she right to do that?

Well whatever it was, Bloom was not going to stay in one place and she was not going to leave the others behind. Bloom followed Winnie to chase after Vladmir. A student who was troubled and seemed to hate Sylvain more than hatred could bear.

"Winnie, wait up. You're not chasing him on your own," she called out while following her.

Action: Chasing after Winnie who is running after Vladmir.

Terrible Presence

Sta - 5 | Eva - 8 | Str - 5 Wis - 8 | Arc - 4 Acc - 10

Evasive Maneuvers

Interacting with :@Vladimir Athanatos @Winnie Harper
Mentioning :@Pericles Dralt @Bloom Silverton

It was a rather bold move from the shady Ravenclaw to repeat what she intended to say, making Aurora flustered by the word ‘your Pericles’. Good thing she was not facing the prefect, so he wouldn’t have to see the state she was in. Despite Vladimir’s explanation of having zero intention to hurt the white haired boy, she was not convinced, not even close. Still stood her ground, glaring at the older student, showing him that she had no fear when there were tons, casually trying to destroy her defences from within. “You better not take five steps to your right then!”

"The woods have awoken…a locus swarm of dark spiders will proliferate the area"

Her nightmare replayed all over again like a broken tape. The image of the injured, scars, and dying tissues of her dorm mates overflowing her mind. As if the fear were a knife that keeps on making these messy incisions. The pain was there, the ache was present, but it was just an illusion. But at that time, she was one step closer to the face of the terror. The trees appeared to be more eerie than usual. Full with secrets, perhaps inviting for some, but the obscure atmosphere making the beautiful nature became a horrifying shadow nest. The muffled voice of the surrounding was the only thing she heard as her mind anxiously running around in circles, screaming the worst scenario that could happen to everyone, to Pericles, to her. How would her mother feel to hear the unfortunate news? A vague memory of the face of her mother when her father moved to a better place unannounced flashed before the girl's eyes. The poor woman would be devastated to lose yet another family even though this time it would be her annoying bothersome daughter. Who will take care of my cat if this will be my end?

The next thing she knew, Winnie did a quite moronic action by running towards the dark forest with the now bare chest guy named Vladimir for a reason that was quite a blur. Was he feeling hot all of the sudden? It wasn't the best time to show off your abs, not the monster would suddenly get distracted by it. Her first instinct was to stop her in any way she could. Tons of emotions were mixed like the most toxic potion inside the tiny girl. The fact that Winnie willingly rushed to the forest without thinking of the consequences drove her mad. “Winnie, don’t!” Though, she almost jumped and follow the girl with a floral dress to the darkened forest, until she was reminded by the shadow monsters that were waiting for her and the others. Her right hand grabbed the wand from her pocket, pointed it at Winnie. “I’m so sorry, I have to do this.”With a deep breath, then swish and flick. Hopefully, this will at least prevent the redhead from getting hurt and stop the ex quidditch keeper from following her. “Wingardium Leviosa!”

Action Stopping Winnie by making her fly :3

Outfit Reducio Without mask and sunglasses

August 8th, 2021

"Looks like a lure"
A lure? Well then why in the world was she even here? She followed a stupid note and got led into a trap. It made sense now and she was about to leave when more people started showing up. Her quidditch teammates had also followed the note and so did one of her new friends Bloom. Almost half the team was here at this points and Lavinia definitely wanted to warn them but had no idea what was going on. Others who had come including Sylvain acted like they knew what was going on and talked to Vlad.

She honestly didn’t know what was going on and could only understand that something bad was about to happen. She wanted to leave so bad and her instincts were telling her to flee yet, she was trying to go against her them. Lavinia needed to stay or else she couldn’t attempt to protect the few friends that she had. It would be betrayal if she were to leave them in the pivotal moment. She couldn’t let them get hurt knowing that she had a chance to help them.

Vlad was scary though and kept saying these cryptic messages that made no sense to Lavinia. She didn’t know all the references and her gossip hadn’t caught her up on every little thing. That’s when the trees started to move. All of her courage was gone and she literally just wanted to run away as quickly as she could. That was the only thing she could think of, trees weren’t supposed to move so when they did something was definitely wrong. Somehow Vlad read her thoughts and said that none of them would make it.

WE NEED TO LEAVE!!!! I know that this was just you following a note but we are way to young to die. Think of the life you can have, don’t waste it right now. This is past the point of facing your fears, this is facing death and we do not want to do that. Like the trees are literally moving, we can’t face that. Now we just need to get everyone out and back to safety in the campgrounds. Get everyone away from the forest and then figure out what this is all about. Don’t just worry about yourself, think about your friends too.

Just when she was about to grab everyone and run, people started running stupidly into the forest. First was the super suspicious Vladimir followed by her new teammate Winnie. Then Bloom decided to join in, Lavinia trusted Bloom but why was she possibly wasting her life like this. “BLOOM NOOO!” she yelled uselessly for some reason. It came out of her just because she didn’t want her friend getting hurt.

Aurora the second string beater was trying to stop Winnie from following Vlad by casting a spell on her. Lavinia needed to do something to stop Bloom but didn’t want to have to use her wand. Trying to act without thinking, Lavinia ran towards Bloom and attempted to grab her arm and drag her out of the woods. “COME ON BLOOM WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!” she shouted while grabbing her arm. None of her friends were dying on her watch, she didn’t know Vlad so didn’t particularly care if he got injured but no one else would.

Action: Running up to Bloom, attempting to grab her arm and drag her out of the woods

Interacting with: Ravenclaws, @Nell Zoldak

Cade was having trouble understanding what precisely happened to Vladimir. And it didn't help that the former student was talking in riddles. Cade was already tired of trying to make sense of things, but little did he expect to see such markings on Vladimir's chest. What happened to this bloke? Cade eyed the rest of the Ravenclaws who flocked to the area. It seemed that everyone was here. But everyone was either just as confused as he was or making some stupid promises to Vladimir. Who he himself seemed uninterested in obtaining everyone's help. But before Cade could ask any questions or even think aloud, several things happened at once.

Vladimir turned to head into the forest after a warning of the hardship that was about to unfold. Cade knew this, he knew the forbidden forest was... well, forbidden. He knew there would be violence. He was prepared for that. What he didn't figure out was that the trees themselves were moving. It was as if some freak gale possessed them like the old willow tree by the gamekeeper's hut! And what was worse was that a few Ravenclaws were making to follow Vladimir into the abyss.

"No!" Cade couldn't stop the words pouring from his mouth. He had to knock some sense into these Ravenclaws. "C'mon guys let's think rationally about this. We have to form some sort of plan! We have to be a team. Alone we'll --fail," the word die nearly escaped his thoughts, it couldn't be good to manifest that. "Together we might have a chance!" Cade's heart climbed up into his mouth, thudding loudly. Who would listen to a former first year? Not when all the prefects of authority were here. It seemed negotiation did nothing, and if anyone had heard what he was saying, it had no effect on those that were sprinting into the forest. He had to do something!

"Help me stop them," Cade cast a pleading glance towards Nell who still stood beside him. He liked to think that she would follow him and he felt that they needed to stick together. Cade didn't care to watch his classmates get completely clobbered by a bunch of trees. So he did the next best thing, ran forward to try and help people out of harm's way.

Action: Protecting @Lavinia Cloven, @Bloom Silverton, @Winnie Harper

| @Aurora Ranvier | @Sylvain Wyllt | @River Dewlight | @Dealla Prince | @Winnie Harper |
| @Bloom Silverton | @Lavinia Cloven | @Cade Darkbound |
(names bolded for easy skimming)

Pericles froze when a mass of wavy brown hair appeared between himself and Vladimir.
Was she about to call him "my prefect"? More importantly, had she just called him her friend...? Sentiment pulled hard on a heartstring as the boy stared on in surprise at the back of her head. There was friendship blooming on the battlefield, though Aurora's adorable antics aside, they were not under attack. Yet. "It's alright, Aurora," Pericles commented quietly, reaching to touch her shoulder and hopefully diffuse whatever could come of this. "He hasn't done anything..." a pointed pause "...wrong." Had he? After reading Vladimir's supposed call for help in the owlery, he wanted to believe the upper-classmen, somewhere beneath all that infamy, had good intentions for his house and Hogwarts. But why had he gone into the woods before? Why now?

*Pericles had read the journal, same as (or rather, thanks to) Sylvain. The young wizard was cursed to his core, made all the more evident by the spidery markings he revealed to them all. Yet his story was as convoluted as could be. He was once not so different from Pericles, and surely many others present could relate: stifled by the long legacy of his father, wanting for friends, doing whatever he could to help and protect both. But cryptic temptations had led him down a dark path. Vladimir was a cautionary tale to the ambitious, and to the lonely. Sylvain was even more adamant about trying to ally with the "black raven", to coax him back into the fold. They were many, they were here, and they wanted to help even if there was little they could do for him. But Vladimir rebuked the lot. He hadn't lured them here, someone who "liked to play games" had, and if they tried to follow him, either the forest or the shadows- the curse- would take them. The younger Ravenclaw grimaced in uneasy silence when it was suggested he should be restrained. Vladimir read him right: he wasn't keen on letting his housemates trundle into murderous woods again, and this time, that included Athanatos.

However, he made it clear he wasn't interested in diplomacy. Tact and talking became all the more useless when it was revealed that Sylvain had taken the journal, worse still when his jest about their numbers came across as a threat. Pericles' eyes locked on to the knife Vladimir was handling so nonchalantly. His focus broke away as they were joined by not one, but two other eagle prefects. "River, Dee...." His breathy greeting was both relieved and forlorn; he was glad to have them here to help, while equally averse to seeing them in a line of danger. But then, they were prefects just the same. They had all signed up to help their House, and even after learning what mad dangers that might entail, stayed on still. This time it was Dee's turn to deliver crucial exposition to the others around. Vladimir's cursed blood had been stolen, essence which could be weaponized, taking the form of shadowy beasts which could spread their foul condition. "Let's not do this again. Stay out of the forest." The grim, unenthusiastically projected words were not for the older Ravenclaw, but for everyone present. Dee had already explained why entering was a wretched idea, and those who had made that mistake before were sure to recall why, under no circumstances, they should repeat it. Regrettably, the woods would be coming to them soon....

"If not, as soon as I am snared, a locus swarm of dark spiders will proliferate the area."
Pericles felt his face scrunch with a blend of outrage and heartache. He felt horrible for the cursed heir after all he had learned, but equally exasperated. Vladimir was being a danger to himself and everyone else who'd had the misfortune of being summoned. "Why would you want that?" Could he not help himself? Did the hags have their claws deep in his head and heart via the curse, or was he just the prince of poor decisions? "Why would you let this happen to you?"
He made his threat clear: cut him open, and his cursed blood would come for the lot of them. Why, why, why. Too many questions. Not nearly enough time to demand answers. The woods were coming to life, trees uprooting themselves. Pericles would try to grab the nearest person out of reflex, likely Aurora, staggering back out of shock and terror. Mortification slapped itself onto his pale features as he witnessed the wooden behemoths stir. Their size sent a tremor through the earth and air alike. Shockingly, Winnie was running for the forest, but Aurora tried to stop her. Bloom was following Winnie, while blessedly Lavinia tried to stop her too. Cade followed the four in an attempt to help them out of harm's way by any means possible, his brief speech about unity echoing faintly through the buzz of horror in Peri's head.

What to do? How to help? Obviously, threatening detention wasn't going to serve as any sort of deterrent this time. He had suffered an awful bout of guilt since the last forest fiasco. Maybe I should have fetched an adult instead, he'd supposed. But now, presented with a similar situation, Pericles would pick a similar course of action. He would stay with his housemates and use his meager soon-to-be third-year experience to help, however he possibly could. For better or worse. He snapped, swallowing down the lump in his throat that may have been a suppressed shout. "We need to leave, but not without Vladimir!" he hollered desperately at no one in particular, jamming the letter back into his pocket, aspen wand raised at the ready. "Lumos for darkness. Let us not start another Incendio forest fire." Body buzzing with a spike of adrenaline, he aimed first at a tree, then reluctantly redirected his wand at Athanatos. A moment's immense hesitation, then a forcefully incanted "Immobulus."

Summary: trying to dissuade everyone from entering the forest, including Vladimir;
having a crisis of morality and discouraging everyone from starting a forest fire
Action: trying to cast Immobulus at Vladimir
*Pericles has gained intel on Vlad's journal since my intro post, hence tone change

Stats

Reducio

Perfectionist, Perfectionist II, Keen Eye
Stamina - 7 | Evasion - 9 | Strength - 4 | Wisdom - 9 | ArcPower - 8 | Accuracy - 9

Mentioning: @Pericles Dralt @Winnie Harper

Interacting With: @Cade Darkbound

outfit | rings

Cade was right, they needed a plan, and everyone needed to help out. Unfortunately, nobody turned a head at him. Nell gave a nod at Cade and ran behind him, trying to help her fellow Ravenclaws. She didn't want anyone to leave here injured or.. no. Injured. She didn't want anyone to be injured. A girl was running out of the forest. Nell squinted while to see who it was, and noticed it was Winnie. A few other students were running after her, Nell included in that group. Going into the forest would only worsen their situation: the last thing they needed.

She was now running slightly in front of Cade, her body taking her surprisingly faster than she expected. Nell glanced behind her to see if he was still in the group behind Winnie, and he was. However, Nell heard Pericles incant Immobulus. She didn't know if it was at the boy, a tree, or something else. All she knew is that Immobulus was casted by Pericles. She hoped that nothing bad was happening back there. Nell looked ahead to make sure Winnie was still in sight. They were nearing the forest though, and she became worried. Things would be much worse in the forest.