Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Feb 17, 2024 11:06:21 GMT -8
Saturday Morning | Private Residence of Professor Mael Gauthier It wasn't often that Wiley Dempsey was stumped by a curse. And a possible druid curse no less. It felt like a personal insult. She practically had the scrolls found with the puzzle box memorized. She wasn't any closer to breaking the curse. She had some ideas but the risks of being wrong were unclear. The only upside had been there was no rush to find a resolution. That was until she got the urgent message from Mael. Something had happened to his friend who found the ancient potion's chamber. She assumed it was related, or else there was no reason to summon her. Setting the emergency notice down that had appeared in her floo inbox from Mael, she was glad she had the scrolls with her for the evening when the letter opened itself and pronounced its message. She didn't want to waste time stopping by her bank vault. Rushing to her work bench, the sigil was emblazoned on the top of the parchment. Scowling at it, she rolled it all up tightly, and sealed it. Stuffing it into her satchel, she checked to make sure her supplies of potions and reagents were stocked in the large front pocket. The request hadn't been specific and she didn't know what she'd need. All her go-to items were inside. Slinging the bag over her head and across her chest, she stepped into her floo. Wiley announced the address Mael had supplied. The familiar pull and pressure of the transport took her through the dizzying loops and shoots before she landed inside the hearth. Even though her visit had been requested, she stayed in the fireplace, brushing off some soot from her cloak, and looked around for the professor for permission to enter his home. "Professor Gauthier?" she called out. Tag: Mael Gauthier
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 17, 2024 15:48:54 GMT -8
Mael had been downstairs in the basement brewing up a new concoction when the screech of an owl made him turn from his work. The creature had been loud enough to be heard over the music that was playing in the background. He didn't like the silence that often filled the house when he didn't have company. Normally he’d have ignore the creature, but it was causing quite a ruckus upstairs. Looking back to his half finished potion, he retrieved his wand and banished it. Grumbling with annoyance, he headed upstairs to find Adrian’s owl throwing a fit in his living room.
“What in Merlin’s name is wrong with you Cosmos?” He walked across to the owl and gave it a few soothing pets. “Relax mate, you’re safe.” He carried the owl over to the spare cage he had and set the horned owl inside. “Take a break and rest up. Plenty and food and water for you,” he spoke gently as he opened the letter. As he read, he could understand why Cosmos was so fussy. Mael was equally ruffled.
Mael,
Whatever we found in that cave is no good. Caleb is dead, and I fear I’m next. This sickness has taken hold and I’ve barely the strength to write. It feels as though there is something dark following my every move. Something evil that will not loosen its grip, suffocating. I beg of you, please discontinue any further research of the artifact. Send it to the Ministry and let them deal with it. I would never have sent you that box had I known. I’m so sorry. Please take care.
Love, Adrian
Mael felt a crushing sensation in his chest. He dropped the letter and without thinking, left for Ireland. The trip was short, but it felt as though it had taken a thousand lifetimes to reach Adrian. When he’d arrived at the other’s house, he’d had to swallow back an overwhelming sense of dread. Something felt terribly wrong here. What if he was too late? The idea left him feeling weak, but he unlocked the door and entered. The sour scent of sickness was like a haze in the air. His eyes adjusting to the darkness, he walked deeper into the home. “Adrian. Adrian, are you home?” Now that he really thought about it, he probably should have checked St. Mungos first. Surely Adrian would have gone that way if he was as ill as he’d claimed in his letters. He stopped at the bedroom door. It was closed. They had been roommates once, and a closed door meant that Adrian didn't want company or he wasn't home. Adrian wasn't home.
St. Mungos was his next stop. This is where he found the green eyed wizard, and he was not doing well at all. Adrian was a ghost of himself. His skin was pale and milky in color. His green eyes had lost their shine, leaving his eyes dark and nearly lifeless. It was clear he'd lost maybe fifteen to twenty pounds, which was concerning in itself. Adrian prided himself on his physical fitness. Mael had seen him looking perfectly toned and healthy as an ox not even two months ago. It only got worse. Adrian had told him St. Mungos was at a loss, and they wanted to keep him until they could fix the problem, but the way he was deteriorating, they had little hope in regard to his longevity.
Mael had had to take a seat. He needed to tell Wiley. He'd forgotten to send her a message after receiving Adrian's letter. While explaining as much to the Herbologist, Adrian had given him a dismissive wave and told Mael to take him home. Adrian had made it very clear that he was not dying in St. Mungos. That he'd rather spend what time he had left with his best friend. It felt like someone had ripped the carpet from under Mael's feet. Still, he took Mael back to his place. Apparating alone had taken it out of Adrian. After he'd thrown up and showered, he'd fallen asleep, albeit it was anything but peaceful. Mael had written Wiley and then curled up next to Adrian, but he couldn't sleep.
When Wiley's voice rang through the living room, Mael got out of bed to meet her. He closed his bedroom door to let Adrian sleep. "Come in," he told her. He felt empty. He picked up Adrian's letter off the floor and handed it to her. "He's here. He's dying. St. Mungos can't help him. We have to fix this. We have to break this curse." His voice was just a touch short of begging. It was taking everything he had no to break down.
Notes: I am so sorry for the length. Most of it was pre-written and I didn't want to delete it because I thought it important to the story.
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Feb 21, 2024 17:36:02 GMT -8
Wiley heard a door open and close. She looked around patiently, but wasn't prepared for the worry and concern she saw on the wizard's face. The one thing Wiley liked about her job was that it was very rarely personal. She'd be asked to break curses so others could get richer or she'd find an ancient challenge where all the victims were ancient history. It wasn't often the case that she was involved in a situation with an recent victim. Not to mention one who was still experiencing the terrible effects of the curse. She didn't like emotional complications. Looking at Mael, all she could see were emotional complications.
Pulling her satchel closer to her she nodded her head in encouragement, "They're not very good at diagnosing these sorts of ailments. If he's sick, we need to consider a good sign. The curse isn't meant to kill someone outright," she said, stepped further into the house. She wanted to ask what the man's symptoms were. She needed to know how the illness had progressed. She got the sense that pushing for such details too soon might break whatever resolve Mael had found for himself. "And there's still time to do something to help your friend. Can you show me where the box is?" she asked, itching to see it for herself. To hold it. To examine it with a scrutiny that was possible through pictures and text. She could start with the box. See if her hunches were warranted. Then she could ask about the sickness. Perhaps with some better ideas about how to help.
No apologies needed! I love that we can do this background information in the intros.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 21, 2024 18:12:55 GMT -8
Mael didn't share her enthusiasm. If she'd seen Adrian, maybe she wouldn't be so hopeful. "His partner from the expedition is dead. They both tried to open the artifact on the same day," he reminded her. He didn't know why Caleb had perished first, and to be frank he didn't care. All he knew was that Adrian was working on borrowed time. How much time was the question yet to be answered. "Thank you for coming on such short notice," he finally said after a moment. Even in distress, he could manage some manners. He waved for her to follow him as he headed down the stairs to the basement. He stopped at the bottom of the door. It was protected by charms and a password, which he opened. The basement covered the entire square footage of the home. Candlelight lit the space, revealing a lab filled with shelves of ingredients, rows of books, scrolls upon scrolls, a desk, and several cauldrons, both empty and full. The best part. There were windows because he hated not being able to see outside. The design was of his own making. This was his playground, and he spent way too many hours down here.
Mael started for the right wall. The bookshelf shifted by itself. He drew his wand and touched it against the stone, revealing a secret compartment where he stored the more valuable items. This cursed artifact was one of them. In fact, it was sitting in said compartment by itself. Mael had more than one hidey hole. "Here it is," he told her, stepping back. He didn't even want to touch it. Mael crossed his arms over his chest. How could something so small cause so much trouble?
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Mar 2, 2024 15:31:42 GMT -8
Wiley followed Mael, understood the situation was serious. She wondered if some other authority was investigating the death or if it was ruled an accident. Things might get complicated if the ministry stuck its nose in their business before they had answers. All the more reason to work faster. Following him down into his workspace she was surprised by the extent of his lab. It was the evidence of a man dedicated to his craft. Maybe too dedicated. Wiley was all for taking her work seriously. She also knew when to set it aside and let loose. She had a small space to work from home, but serious matters were reserved for her bench space at Gringott's. "I'm sorry for your friend," she said, it was even more evident that he was concerned face to face. Familiar with a person accessing a hiding spot, Wiley hung back to respect his privacy as much as she could. As he gestured to the contents, she felt the familiar excitement of a challenge to overcome. It was a surge of adrenaline she lived for. However, it was dampened by the real threat to live, the loss of life that had already happened. Slipping her bag off her shoulder, she took a look at the box. It appeared to be wooden with decorative carvings around the sides she could see. A cautious approach wasn't a luxury they had. Reaching into the safe, Wiley was careful to touch only two of the corners in case the panels could be depressed. Keeping it level, Wiley backed up and set the box down on a nearby workbench. Keeping an eye on it, she pulled out a small vial from her bag. Taking the stopper out, she tipped it over. Instead of a liquid, a vapor swirled out from the opening. Smoke that was denser than air, enveloped the box. "Revealing vapor," she explained, it was a purchase she had made in South America. "It should show us if there are any invisible fields at play or leaks. I don't see anything. I think it's safe to study it. The curse must get activated when the box is manipulated in the wrong way." Getting a closer look at the sides, the vapor dissipated. "Do we know if the panels actually move around or were they just depressed like buttons?" she asked, taking a close look at the sigil. After some time studying sigils, she found it oddly familiar. Wiley hoped that meant she had seen it in her research. Notes: Sorry for the delay!! Maybe the box? Maybe the sigil?
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Mar 8, 2024 11:45:28 GMT -8
She gave her condolences and Mael gave a small a nod in acknowledgment. What more could he do? He wasn't in the mood to give the cliche answer of telling her it wasn't her fault. They both knew she had nothing to do with the events that had occurred. Adrian and his associates had been reckless, and the consequences had been grave. Mael wouldn't deny that had he been in Adrian's shoes, he'd have done the same thing. He too had a reckless streak about him. The idea of being faced with death versus actually facing it was a rude awakening. They were vulnerable. Subject to injury and death. Their lives could expire. In a sense, the illusion of being invisible had been shattered.
He stood back as she pulled the box from the safe. When she moved to the workbench, he joined her, sitting down at the far end in a chair. He watched her work. His silence was a combination of stress and observation. She explained the revealing vapor and he was silently grateful that he'd taken the time to store the box. Had it been leaking whatever curse was on it, that would have proven disastrous. More disastrous than things already were. The blue eyed man looked at the box with clear disdain as Wiley started asking questions. "I think it's a bit of both," he told her. He looked towards the stairs for a brief moment and then back to Wiley. He pointed to the panels. "Adrian said some will give easily, but there's an algorithm. He couldn't figure it out."
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Mar 23, 2024 17:09:37 GMT -8
Wiley scowled at the box. There were times to gather information and times to act. Truth be told, she was more comfortable acting. Spending her entire life with a family full of Ravenclaws had forced her to appreciate the other. She had tried the Ravenclaw way. This was a time for a Gryffindor. Looking up, she thought about Mael's friend, about the other explorer who fell to the curse. The clock had been ticking this entire time and they hadn't known. A curse with delayed effects. The added security of a puzzle algorithm. A feeling deep within her worried they were all in over their heads.
Taking a step back, she considered telling the potion's professor to head for safety. "I found some documents deep in the vaults of Gringotts's of similar boxes. Each one was different, but there were some common themes. I think we can try to open it. I don't know any other way to help Adrian. We have to see what's in the box to understand what's afflicting him," she started, got a good look at the haggard man. The responsible thing would be to call in a colleague. She'd give him that option if he gave any indication that he'd rather leave the curse breaking to her so he could focus on his friend. In the short time she knew him, she got the sense that he wouldn't be satisfied to let her take all the risks. Not if he could do something to find a solution to the curse's effects.
Stowing her wand in her pocket, she'd need both hands to work. "Do you think you can back me up?"
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Apr 15, 2024 4:38:55 GMT -8
Wiley's thoughts were a reflection of Mael's own concerns. He'd been thinking about how Adrian's partner had mysteriously passed away. Had the man been sick and the curse had accelerated his demise? Possible. Was there no set timeline? Also possible. Too many variables and not enough data to come up with a proper timeline. His heart sank further when he thought about how they were just winging this whole thing. Mael's only structure in life came from potion making. Everything else was a free for all, and he liked it that way. Now he wanted something solid to hold onto. Something that would ensure him that Adrian was going to survive this, and in a few years they'd look back on it and laugh until their heart's content. He could cling to that hope.
Mael focused on Wiley as she spoke to him. His blue eyes found some life as she spoke of the documents. This was why they'd gone to a curse breaker from the start. Wiley was a genius, and while the intent had originally been to just discover something new, she was going to help save a life. He was thankful they'd found the best, instead of some halfwit. "What do you need me to do," he asked her. He wasn't going to turn tail and run. Aside from his family, Adrian was the most important person in Mael's life. He had zero intentions of letting Wiley tackle this task alone.
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Apr 21, 2024 15:52:04 GMT -8
Nodding at his determination, she pulled out another bottle of revealing vapor. Handing it to him, she motioned to the cloud covered box, "We need to know the second the curse is activated. This smoke is our best chance. While I manipulate the box, I need you to make sure the vapor covers the surround area at all times and I need to know immediately if you see something seeping through the vapor from the box." In her experience there weren't many people worth trusting with ones life. A person motivated to protect someone they loved was high on the list. He might not know her well enough to sacrifice himself for her, but she was certain he'd do it for Adrian.
Waiting for Mael to get into position and become comfortable with his task, she made sure the path all around the workbench was clear. They might be able to out run what ever escaped the box if they could see it coming their way. On the other side of it, she noted a gold embossed panel. It was likely the start of the combination. And if she was right it was also the end. She'd need to manipulate the symbols in order to complete some specific arrangement. It could be anything. Aligning the flowers, connecting the lines... whatever it was, the recessed panels should move outward. In the end, she expected that the box would be whole, smooth, and make a clear pattern. There could very well be faux patterns to look for. She'd need all her senses. Digging into her bag, she pulled out some enchanted headphones. "This will amplify any sound. I need to hear any sounds the box makes. If you need to say something, best to whisper," she explained. "Unless we need to run."
Wily looked at the potions master one more time. He looked determined. Determined was good. "Ready?"
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Apr 22, 2024 18:06:32 GMT -8
He listened carefully. If ever there was a time to actually pay attention, it was now. Mael's brain was often going a thousand miles an hour, but at this moment, there were two thoughts going through his head. The first was that he had to save Adrian. The second; in order to save Adrian, he had to pay attention to Wiley. He took the bottle from her, his blue eyes focused. They had to be careful, lest they end up cursed too. "I got it," he told her firmly. Mael was interested in how said vapor was made, but now was not the time to inquire on the specifics of it all. He would worry about that later.
He moved a little closer, finding a spot to pour the vapor without being in Wiley's way. She pulled out some headphones, and he thought it was the most muggle thing ever, but as she explained, he understood. It was a brilliant item, one that would hopefully alert them to any catastrophes beforehand. "I'm ready," he told her. He started to pour the contents of the bottle slowly, watchful for any danger. They had one chance at getting this right. Good luck to the both of us.
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on May 2, 2024 17:18:39 GMT -8
This was what she lived for. The absolute terror of the worst case scenario and trusting her ability and training to deal with that scenario. Normally it was simply a matter of recovering some riches or treasure. Rare were the stakes so high for her. That added to the surge of adrenaline. The healers couldn't help Adrian. They basically wrote his deal certificate and told Mael to come back and have it signed when it was over. It was terrible. If there were answers in the box, she'd do everything in her power to get them. Nodding as the vapor coverage was perfect, she was glad to have the steady hand of a potioneer next to her on this particular situation.
Wiping her hands on her pant legs, she leaned forward. There was an obvious start to the sequence. She didn't think that particular bit was a decoy. They'd know soon enough. With a steady hand, she turned the panel ninety degrees in the direction with the least amount of tension. She heard a soft click through her headphones. Holding her breath, her hand hovered, waiting for any sign of catastrophe. It seemed safe. Wiley looked up at Mael and gave him a thumbs up. "One click," she confirmed, knowing he couldn't hear what she had. Looking at the panel again, she was surprised to see that the small gold line on the starting square had moved to an adjacent panel. That felt suspicious. "I'm not sure it should be so obvious," she muttered softly, letting Mael see the change.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on May 4, 2024 7:02:01 GMT -8
Mael poured the vapor slowly as Wiley worked. He appreciated her focus. It was clear the curse breaker was locked in and engaged in her work. She worked methodically, turning a panel. She gave him a thumbs up and he could only assume that was a good. He was carefully watching the order in which she manipulated the box. If things went south, they could evacuate and start over. If he remembered the order up until their failure, they could repeat the process with ease. He was grateful he'd had circulation to the outside world flowing in and out, separate from the main house. It had been a precaution for the times he brewed unknown potions. There was also charms and runes in place in case those first precautions failed. Mael could be flighty, but he was very much methodical when it came to his safety. He could lose an arm, maybe even some fingers, but he valued his life and the lives of others. Wiley showed him the changes to the box, and he frowned briefly. It was rare for Mael to frown. Most days he was all laughs and silly faces, but there was a seriousness to this situation that heavily weighed on his mood. Still, he trusted Wiley. She'd been doing this for an exceptional amount of time. He believed that if anyone could break this curse, it was Wiley Dempsey.
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