Noble Arcana

The more knowledge I obtained, the less I felt I knew. Magic seemed a almost infinite source of learning and mystery and I wished to drown in it.

Victor Morrow

Solomon was disappointed to experience only a dreamless sleep rather than any visions of the past that could’ve come from Crimson Command. Still, his body had certainly needed it.

He stood, carefully leaving his hammock to see The World’s familiar expression on Edmure’s face as he stood at the doorway.

“Good morning World.”

“It is. Do you have the items prepared?”

Solomon walked to the desk and held up the girl’s journal, in an instant it had vanished from his grasp and a sealed scroll had taken its place. He carefully put the scroll onto the desk as Edmure came back to himself.

Solomon wondered how The World had been defeated. He assumed everything that this bound version could do, the free version of him could do as well. He could possess anyone, seemingly at will, teleport objects, and perhaps even occupy multiple spaces at a time. That was probably only a portion of what he was capable of when he was whole. The fact that the other Arcana or at least the Magician had managed to not only defeat him, but force him into servitude showed just how powerful mages could become. That thought brought more than a little excitement to Solomon.

“Good morning, sir. Are you feeling up to a more substantial breakfast today?” asked Edmure, rallying.

“Yes please.”

The valet bowed and left the room.

Once he was gone Solomon broke the wax seal on the scroll and spread it out carefully, reading the very small and neat text that was written across it.

Commune with the Dead

Requires:

Body of the deceased

Object of the deceased

1 piece of aged paper

1 rusted link of chain

This spell only works after midnight and before the third hour of morning.

Approach the body of the deceased. Place the paper and aged link of chain on the body itself or the coffin which contains it. The link of chain should be weighing down the paper. While holding an object that was owned by the deceased, speak their name three times while pouring mana into the paper and the words you speak. DO NOT BE INTERRUPTED. Speaking the name only once or twice will act as an incomplete call that any nearby spirits may choose to answer.

When the spirit of the dead appears you shall be allowed to ask three questions, though the spirit may decide to answer more. This spell is a tremendous drain on mana. If you allow your mana to drain completely, a malicious spirit may choose to begin draining your life force instead to make themselves more substantial.

Be wary.

Solomon read through the scroll twice then carefully folded it and hid it within one of the books he’d brought. Whoever had sold it to him seemed to be very thoughtful with their warnings. Many would likely have simply listed the basic instructions and let come what may.

Edmure brought Solomon a hearty breakfast of warm porridge, toasted bread, and even some cured ham. Solomon ate slowly, not wanting to push his stomach too hard after the last week, but felt nearly as hale as he had before he set foot on the ship a week prior by the time he was done.

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He dressed and spent a short time on deck to get some fresh air and check on the status of the voyage with third officer Alanse before retreating back down to his cabin. He wanted to spend more time with his Uncle’s journals and this seemed the most practical time to work through them.

The first several entries had few important updates. Just descriptions of Victor working with the other members of the anonymous magical organization he’d joined. Eventually though, things began to progress more rapidly.

It had taken some time for one of us to locate fresh materials. During the most recent culling of hidden cabals and mages by the Union they also increased their requests for any magical materials that could be found. As such all the nearby hills, forests, and hinterlands that abound in Drakthiss had been picked nearly clean by the Explorer’s Guild and other mercenaries. It was a rare thing for nobles such as those making up our group to find something to be unobtainable, but that was where we found ourselves for some time.

We were lucky that Steel managed to obtain a fairy. It had been taken in by a family and cared for within their home. An occurrence that was once far more common before the empire had been formed and knowledge of changelings had spread.

The creature was larger than expected, roughly the size of a child, and had many mannerisms similar to one. Its crying was particularly pitiful. Iron suggested that we immediately butcher it for use in rituals, but Silver and I suggested that there would be more value in draining it slowly so that we could maximize the use we could get out of it. It likely won’t live more than a few months in the iron cage it’s within, but we can drain quite a lot of blood before then.

There were several descriptions from there on about what was done to maximize their use of the creature they found. How they drained its blood, how they stored it, how they managed to extend its life nearly a full month after it should’ve died. As they were doing all of this they also considered what the blood and materials should be used for. Some wished to attempt curses against the Union or other enemies. Others wanted to simply divide it up and allow everyone to do as they wished. Eventually it was decided that they would attempt a summoning ritual as a group and then the remaining blood and other materials would be divided amongst them.

The ritual had been found by Silver and was described as a means of asking questions of extraplanar entities. What these entities were was unclear, much of the text was unreadable. I found it familiar, as I’d encountered it several times in my own research, but had never found any means to translate it. Still, we all agreed that it was worth the risk.

The circle took some time to complete, and Silver and I needed to verify that the others had filled everything in correctly more than once. I found myself regretting joining them, though I will admit that my own stockpile of mystical knowledge had drastically increased thanks to their collections.

When we all began to chant the listed incantation, I felt the tingle of mana for the first time. Sensing it as it emanated from the ink mixed with fae blood that we used to draw the circle. It was only the slightest taste, but I could feel the infinite possibility within it.

Nothing appeared, even as our chant was finished. Everyone remained still for more than a minute, then Silver attempted to ask a question, but nothing responded. In the end the ritual had ended in disappointment.

I returned to my own quarters several hours later, with the blood of the fairy that was my due and a sense of disappointment. Then I heard the whisper. The voice was hollow and hungry as it spoke to me in a language I didn’t understand. It lasted only a few moments, then ended. I felt no fear in that moment, only elation. The ritual had worked, at least partially, and it seemed as if it had chosen to reveal something to me.

Solomon rubbed his eyes. He may have memorized the cipher and learned to translate the words without reference, but it still required intense concentration and mental effort. He guessed that the language the ritual was partially in and the words that were spoken to his uncle were likely that of demons. He was eager to find out what happened next, but it was nearing time for dinner. He had good reasons to avoid sitting at the captains table for the last week, but if he did so any longer it would be impolite. While the captain seemed to want him out of the way, it could certainly create some problems if he was seen as not showing respect during a voyage that still had more than a month remaining.

He carefully closed and stored the journal, moving to get dressed. Things were getting warmer so he avoided a vest and instead wore only a dark green jacket over a high collared black shirt. He buckled Crimson Command to his waist and walked out the door to find Edmure already on the way to get him.

“Am I late?” he asked.

Edmure shook his head. “I would never allow you to be, sir.”

Solomon smiled at that and they headed up to deck.

“Managed any card games on board?” Solomon asked.

“A few Lord, though I don’t want to have any serious games until we’re closer to shore.”

“Don’t want to take everyone’s money and have an accident before you can get off the ship?”

“Something like that..”

“Wise man.”