OOC: sry for the long absence

IC: William had decided to hold off on that decision to meet Angel immediatly. He decided that maybe it would be best to regain his composure and prevent any embarassing moments. His men were still preparing so he had all the time in the world to prepare. After a few minutes of controled breathing, he finally had the courage to meet Angel as a person and not a tool. He was about to head into the guild hall when he heard a lot of movement on the roof and some familiar voices.

"Who is up there?" he asked angrily, "WHta business do you have on the roof of the Mage's guild? I can't have some troublesome person running along the rooftops, so come down and speak to me face to face!"

Angel did not recognize the person who now uncloaked revealing a lithe body clad in black leather. Her first instinct was to call off the confrontation that seemed to be brewing on the roof but she quickly thought better of it. Everyone had seemed to perk up at the thought of a little action and she was reluctant to spoil their fun as long as it didn't turn deadly.

Replacing the antidote into her organizer, Angel cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted "Hi. My name is Angel. I'm sorry I can't join you up there but my place is here for now. I hope you are enjoying this. Personally I'm bored to death. If this meeting takes much longer, we may have to send out for food."

Traven stared at Carahil, mulling over the proposal in his mind as he looked at her. What had happened? Where has Carahil gone? He could still remember the young Altmeri maiden who accompanied him against Benirus, that corrupted mage of Anvil history. He still remembered congratulating her, as she dissipated a spectral minion on their way to the basemant to challenge the necromancer. The fire in her eyes, the determination to end his evil...

Where had it gone?

"I'm afraid you can never return to being a guildhall in good standing. Your association with the necromancers means you will be inherently suspect to many of the Mage's Guild and general public. I can guarantee that you will remain a legitimate Guildhall, however. I cannot guarantee the necromancer's safety in public, either, as anyone could possibly attack them; the view towards Necromancers is not likely to change soon, Carahil." Traven sighed, his shoulders dropping in defeat.

The only way to end it... those vile bastards have likely won. Any other way, and I'll end up turning everyone against me. "If the Count allows such, I will permit the existence of a residence for necromancers. However, none of those necromancers may be allowed membership or room and board in this Guild Hall. Is that clear?"


The person laughed, a nearly musical laugh if not for the muffling affect of the scarf around their mouth, then looked at the necromancers. "You hear that? You are boring the little girl." The figure's voice had risen slightly, and one might be able to note a minor feminine tone to the voice.

The agile form shifted, right foot moving ahead while the left remained in place, and the right arm flicked around the waist before revealing a dagger, which spun around the index finger before being gripped by the hand. In the glimmer of the sunlight, one could see a thin film of green upon it.

"My dear Arch-mage never mentioned having to handle stubborn-willed necromancers on a roof, but I'm flexible." A grin came over the pair of eyes that was the only revealed part of the face, as the person crouched. "Either you get off the roof and allow negotiations to continue at their snail-pace, or I kick you off the roof. Are we clear?"

"Ah, you hear that Belland? Mage's Guild. Well then, I have no reason to be up here, do I. I'll just leave our other visitor to you, I'm sure you can handle him. Oh, and by the way, I'm not a Necromancer. Honestly, why must everyone always jump to conclusions?" Claudius said as he quickly walked to the edge of the building and made his way back down to the ground near Angel.

"Hello there William, Angel. Did someone say something about food?" He asked. I'm going to have to get ready to leave soon. As soon as that meeting is finished, I'll have to go and collect my things. What to use for the circle though? Blood would perhaps be a bit much. Better to use ink here, with all the paranoia. Don't want anyone to think I actually am a Necromancer after all.

Carahil
"Accepted."

There was so much more Carahil wanted to say as she spoke. Fully half of the Mages had left the guild because of the ban. If public sentiment ran the same way then there would be far less antagonism than the Arch Mage was portraying. Times were changing and people wanted to know why they had to die. They wanted know if there was something they could do about it. It was important to see that a moral standard be set and held to now or there would be more of the horrors of Lorgren Benirus.

Angel
Grinning at Claudius's inquiry Angel answered, "I said food. I've never been to a street party but I've heard they are fun. People stop and join in and the next thing you know a local musician or singer will show up and everybody dances, eats, and gets spiffed. I can't leave here right now but I will chip in for the food and drinks. There's an Inn with a kitchen just up the street and you can get Erandur and William to help you bring it back. What do you say? If we all live through this it will be a celebration and if we don't it will be our funeral party."

Seeing as no-one was talking to him, Erandur decided to jump down. It hurt like hell, but he was alright.

"Yeah, I'll go get some food. I have a bad craving for some ham!" he said, looking at Angel and grinning. He then turned to William, and said, "You go too, huh? I need to talk to you, really." He shifted in his armor, trying to stretch in a way.

William wondered what Erandur wanted to talk about, but he had a feeling it was about the Vladamus. It would be best to get this inevitable conversation out of the way anyway. "What do you want to talk to me about?" he asked politely, "Let's talk it over on that ham you're craving."

"Oh hell yeah!" Erandur said. He then noticed Angel again. "Oh. I mean, HECK yeah!" He felt really awkward after that, but decided to not worry about it. He motioned for Will to follow him into the inn.

"So...I heard you and Vlad weren't always the best of friends." he said, putting down his little paper menu. "But you should probably know, Vlad was always an ass. But I heard he was particularly with you. I just wanted you to know that the reason he was an ass was because you were one of his best friends. He always liked you, as a friend. He just wanted to be better. That's how my brother is...I mean, was." Erandur swallowed hard and eyed his mead.

"Me and Vlad were almost like rivals, both of us trying to get Angel's approval." William said as he drank his water, "There were a lot of arguments, but we usually got through it."

He wasn't suprised that he and Erandur were talking about Vladamus. Everyone missed him, and he thought that the conversation would be more awkward. "We may have been fighting once in a while, but we were always looking out for each other and Lady Angel."

"Yeah I know." Erandur said calmly, now looking back at William. "It's just I feel really awkward when he's mentioned, especially around you. It's like you couldn't bury the hatchet. Just accept the fact that Angel cared for you both, but she obviously cared for him more." Erandur said this with a little regret. "I mean, no offense, but it just seems that way."

"Why should I let you stay up here" Belland demanded. lowering his sword but keeping a firm grip on it incase he needed to fight. "If I leave you here you could attack or attempt some form of stupid stunt that would force me to kill you anyway" he explained trying to sound reasonable. "So answer my questions and please do not make me do anything stupid". Belland hoped the mage would make a move if only for the fun of destroying one of the arch-mage's followers.

Angel munched her ham sandwich with great pleasure taking a flask of her apple-berry juice to wash it down with. She would have to hold off with mead until the meeting was ended.

"Claudius," She prompted, "What was all that stuff you were talking about earlier? As I recall, you claimed to be able to destroy a city. I have seen one city destroyed; Kvatch. Are you saying that you are in league with the Daedra that destroyed Kvatch?"

"On no my dear girl. We are not in league with the Daedra. Actually, we lost two heavy squads there. Tried to prevent one of the openings, but it didn't go well. Lost over a dozen men there, some of which I knew. No, we fight to keep the Empire, and our own existence, alive, though some would question the wisdom of that. So many men have we lost to hold our end of the bargain. So many. Hundreds. Gardenhall is all but a shadow of it's former glory, all because we protect the Empire from it's numerous enemies. But let me ask you a question. Do you think Necromancy is a failure? What I mean is, the point of Necromancy is to revive the dead, but that is simply impossible. You can raise their bodies, but never restore them to their former selves. Oh sure, some would argue that it simply hasn't been discovered how to do that yet, but I know the truth. It's impossible. You can never restore someone to what they were before death. Why do you think that is?" Claudius said, still smiling at the girl.

"What you know is; that in all of recorded history, there is no record of it ever being done." Angel corrected. "My early training was in meditation and releasing the mental blocks and filters that cause us to make those kind of associations and assumptions. The absence of an example of restoring life doesn't prove that it's impossible. It's always impossible until it's been done.

Master Pheng said that life is a game and that death is merely the way we end the game. I doubt the Necromancers will ever find the secret of resurrection if it exists. What they are far more likely to do is extend the current knowledge about the magical energies that can animate dead tissue and even mimic intelligence of a sort.

Everything around us is made of energy. It all vibrates and using magic is to practice the art of tuning yourself to those vibrations. Are they good or bad? That's a moral question and one I don't have an answer for. I do know that my music teacher said I had what's called 'perfect pitch' and that was the reason I am considered something of a prodigy with magic."

"Very well." Traven said in a somewhat defeated tone, before looking to one of his battlemages. "Make sure the agreement is written into documentation. A copy for the University, a copy for Carahil, and a copy for the City of Anvil. Necromancers are not sanctioned as members of this Guildhall, but are allowed their own place of residence at the Count's discretion. The Anvil Guild Hall is cleared of their charges."

"Which concludes this, and I must now move to another bit of business. I have questions for Angel." Traven announced, as he headed for the door.


The figure actually laughed at this, crossing one leg over the other and looking side-ways at Belland. "I don't think you are in the position to be making demands. After all, according to the Mage's Guild, aren't you supposed to be dead?" An eyebrow rose in inquiry.

"Technically, as this is so, I should be the one attacking you right now, for merely being here. In the vicinity of the Arch-mage. I follow his orders, and they were to make sure nothing stupid happens during his meeting. I won't make you do anything stupid, either. I use my illusion magics for other things."
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OOC: Must... get... into... Siras.

IC: Siras held the artifact in his hands, looking down at it in contemplation. The magic within it... maybe he could-

No! No... that is not the reason I took the artifact from the University. He told himself harshly, setting the artifact down on the table. If I were to use it, I'd be no better than they are. But he had to do something with it. It could not just remain here, on the top of his desk. He had to find a way to secure it, a way that few could ever undo or open. The idea came to him and Siras moved over to a rugged bookshelf, taking off it a dingy tome. He set it next to the artifact and began to read through the pages in candlelight.

"It may be that it is possible to restore life, but that is not restoring them to what they were before. Life is nothing without the soul, the spirit. If someone were to restore life, the soul would not be willing to return. Why is that?" Claudius asked.

Before the girl could respond, he began speaking again. "It's because in death, the spirit is happier that it ever could be in life. It wishes to move on to the next plane of existence, not be trapped here. If a way to restore the soul and life is found, it would be an abomination, a foolish attempt to change something we know nothing about. And that is the grand failure of Necromancy. The goal of so many is to restore their loved ones to this world, not knowing what would happen if they did so. If it were to happen, the person would be a shell of their former selves. Necromancy, in it's very principles, is flawed, and that is what makes it a failure," he explained.

"It was for that very reason that I began to study Necromancy, but it took the wisdom of another to convince me of my mistake. What would you learn? What do you want to know? What guides your path and pushes you forward? For me, it was the death of my father, but now it is duty, a cause. Perhaps you have yet to discover what guides you," he said to the girl, still smiling.

Carahil

"It was Angels request that your battlemages and I accompany you out." Carahil said stepping out into the street.

Angel

"Claudius you and I share similar outlooks. I'd like to ..Oh look! They're finally out but they don't look happy."

Carahil
Seeing the grim expression on Angel's face, Carahil said; "Everything is fine. The Anvil guild members have been cleared of all charges. The only other thing is; the Arch Mage needs to ask you some questions."

Belland sheathed his sword and stepped away from the man, ```Fine I will not fight you, however I am not leaving`` he said with a grunt and sat down on the roof. He was paranoid about the man`s plan and would not let him try anything. His intuition had served him well in the past and he was not about to start ignoring it then when angel`s life and indirectly his plans might be in jeopardy.

OOC: Where in the bloody hell is William?????

ooc: It has only been three days...

William wasn't too offended by Erandur's statement. Even he sometimes thought Angel liked Vladamus more, but he never got too interested in the thought. "Even if she did like Vladamus better," he said softly as he drank some more, "it doesn't matter now since we were both here for Lady Angel. And he is dead after all, no offense."

He immediately felt bad for saying that, but he was a little bit angry after this boy said Angel liked Vladamus better.

"Ah, excellant. If you will all excuse me, I must prepare for my departure. Have fun with your little interrogation," Claudius said, walking straight past the group and heading back to his room.

He quickly arrived and closed the door behind him, grabbing a small bag from in the corner and collecting the items there. Many notes were scattered across the room from the various times he had visited here, but he had the feeling he wouldn't be returning any time soon. He collected all that he could find and then started sorting through the books. He took several, but left the majority, as most could be found elsewhere. He found a few more potions in the mess, but left them where they were. After all, there's no telling what effects they might have, and he couldn't remember making them. Lastly, he took a quill, inkwell, and several spare pieces of parchment. He always seemed to need paper at exactly the time when he didn't have any, so he was going to try to make a point to always have a few with him. He stored these in the small bag he was carrying, rather than the brown bag he was collecting all of his items in.

After finishing with all that, he layed back on his bed with the rather large, brown bag on the side. He began to think of how he would leave. Certainly he would have to use the stone, but that was a rather painful method, and if the girl was going to come with him, that could prove a problem. The portal was infinitly more dangerous however, so he ruled that out immediatly. He could always just walk there, but he had never actually used the normal entrance, so he probably wouldn't be able to find it anyway. It seemed the stone was his only choice. Now for how to use it. Without his normal means, he could write the symbol on a piece of paper, but he had no idea if it would work when it was that small. Well, only one way to find out.

He got up and moved to his desk. He took a piece of parchment, dipped his quill in ink, and began to write. A circle came first, then several slashes and lines, until almost the entire open space was covered in lines. Once that was finished, he drew his dagger and made a small cut on his hand. He lowered the bleeding hand onto a small piece of paper and muttered a few indistinct words. There was a bright flash of red light, and suddenly the lines were glowing red. It had worked. He could now leave any time he wished, with the mere mention of a short phrase. The process had tired him though, and he lowered his head onto his desk and closed his eyes, waiting patiently for his magicka to regenerate.

Carahil

Kneeling in the street to speak eye to eye with Angel, Carahil said "The Necromancers will not be allowed to use the hall but the official policy of persecution will stop and they can even purchase potions and such here. At this point I suppose they will still mostly practice in their secret lairs but at least they can visit Anvil now without being attacked and I can keep an eye on their activities."

Angel

"Carahil; I must leave. I must get to Skingrad right away." Angel declared. She needed to know if Elgin and Swims-On-Land had managed to steal the remaining part of the Egg.

"If you want to ask me anything Arch Mage, you had better do it now because I am leaving Anvil and I don't intend to wait around here for you to grant me an audience."

Shouting to Belland still on the roof of the Mages guild, she said, "Belland; I'm leaving for Skingrad and I would very much like for you to come along. If not you are welcome to use my manor." Turning to Carahil she added, "In fact; here's the key to the manor. I would be grateful if you would watch the place for me. Visiting Necromancers may use it as long as they don't stink the place up with dead bodies."

"My question-" The Archmage replied to the girl, getting right to the point. "-is where the Egg is located. I know the University had the Key of the Artifact, however it was recently stolen, and not by conventional means." Whether his last point showed knowledge of Angel's plan or was simply to make a point was uncertain, but it made the point well.

"One of my own servants was possessed, remembers nothing, and the artifact is gone. We have found traces of magic used against her, but not of the Illusionist variety. More spiritual, possibly necromantic. Someone who should not have the artifact now does. I wish to know if you were involved, and where the other piece is, so that we can track it and hope it does not disappear as well."

Erandur was appalled by William's statement. How could he even say that? It was so disrespectful.

"What an [censored] thing to say." Erandur said, standing up. "I'm going to go back to Angel. Why don't you just stay and rot here?"

He left the restaurant in a hurry, and went to find Angel. It didn't take long until he did. "Hey, I'm back." He looked at everyone around, then turned back to Angel. "Are we leaving or something?"