Log:Reunion and Loss

Dem Bones 2022/01/31 Radical Lightray Grimm Night Marshal Night Hound 1

It's a cold evening, about 30F, and mostly cloudy. Make spotting the sunlit infused Lightray fairly easy to find back among the old mausoleums, where families of wealth, in the past, buried their dead all together in crypts and mausoleums.

He's changing out the flowers, lilies and gardenias, in the holders on either side of the door to a large old mausoleum with the name 'Newhouse' carved above the door.

"...been interesting, dear. The students seem unable to grasp that French has gender. So, I'm using your advice about color coding. Each class is different and this one needs more visual stimulation it seems," you hear Lightray saying as he arranges the flowers. His tone is conversational.

Grimm had Connor help her with a spell of his to help find out when and where she might encounter Lightray. While the details were hazy on the events surrounding it, she does know to be here and now. She has a scarf in addition to her leather jacket, registering that it's cold out, but not realizing HOW cold it is out, as its frostier nature doesn't affect her much.

She appears near the entrance of the cemetery and walks along in search of Lightray, easily spotting the glow and making her way that way. She thought he'd be here vanquishing some undead theme, not visiting a grave. She halts and remains her distance out of respect, but casts a little bit of magic to scry closer to listen and see the grave marker.

Well, the grave 'marker' on the lintel above the door says simply 'Newhouse' and it's easy to see as the mausoleum is larger than some houses in CB. It's a marble Classical behemoth standing inside it own little fenced area. One suspects it might extend down a bit into the ground as well. The gate stands opens in the wrought iron fence leading up to the holders on either side of the iron doors to the mausoleum where Lightray is changing the flowers.

"Well, that new flowers for you, dear. Your favorites, well, the one's in season. You never did like paying more for the hothouse flowers. I'll remember to bring extra on your birthday next week." He pauses for a moment, "I miss you and the children, Phyllis. At least I got see Maggie before she dies. I'll talk to you again soon."

Grimm feels a lot like she's intruding, surprised as she feels a sympathetic pang at the mention of him missing his wife and children. She never thought of Newhouse as being lonely. She waits outside, a short distance from the mausoleum to allow him his time with his passed loved ones.

Lightray heads out the gate around the mini-cemetery around the Newhouse mausoleum, shuts it, then takes a key out a pouch around his waist and locks it. The faded flowers he removed from the sconces by the doors sit next to a brilliant bouquet of white and red roses resting on the ground. He picks up the faded flowers, looks at them for moment, then a glow of sunlight comes fromfrom his hands, brightens dramatically, and burns them into a fine dust that he lets drift away on the light wind.

Only then does he pick up the remaining fresh bouquet and strat to walk away from the mausoleum gates towards, not the entrance, but towards a 'newer' part of the cemetery it seems.

Grimm watches Lightray curiously, unnoticed so far. Maybe she can cure him of the curse here and now. She sends a mental message to Radical. << I was able to find Lightray. You need a gate over?>> And then sends a text to Night Marshal. << Interested in finding out more about this curse for Lightray? I know you had concerns about removing it. I've run into him at the cemetery and am calling in another magical consult for curses.>>

Radical responds, << A gate would be quicker than my getting to you myself. >>

There's a longer wait for Night Marshal responding, << Sure. Sorry, just needed to get suited up. >>

Grimm smiles a bit at Night Marshal's comment. << No need to apologize. We can't have you showing up au natural. Gate incoming in 10 seconds.>> That gives him time to turn off the lights to his apartment if he isn't on the roof already. Not that there's anyone but the dead to see through the portal at the angle she's planning. She opens the portal first to let Night Marshal through. She mentally tells Radical, <> She opens a gate to Radical after Night Marshal is through.

Lightray walks along and by the many graves in the cemetery. He seems to be headed to an area that's not nearly as old as where his family's mausoleum is, but still, not one of the newer areas either. There are far fewer trees and bushes in this part, but the gravestones are still raised rather then flush with the ground for the most part.

Night Marshal steps through and looks around slowly. Then the second gate opens up...and Radical joins the others. He waves to them both. "Hey there."

Grimm smiles at Night Marshal as he arrives, knowing she has to keep his secret. She waves to Radical and goes over to give him a brief hug. "Hey, thanks for coming. Both of you," she says after she releases Radical. No hug for Night Marshal since she's erring on the side of caution. "Radical, this is Night Marshal. He helped me on the situation I told you about with the Baykok, and has saved my life on a few occasions."

Night Marshal tips his hat, and nods, "Nice to meet ya." He then shakes Radical's hand.

Radical nods. "Grimm has spoken highly of you. Nice to meet you as well."

Grimm is just glad nothing blew up between the two of them, since this is their first meeting. Night Marshal's secret isn't the only one she's keeping. She's kept Radical's secret from Night Marshal as well. Which makes things...complicated. But she's used to complicated. "Lightray's over there," she motions and speaks quietly. "Though he's visiting some graves. Maybe we should approach him after to be respectful." But she's not so respectful as to not cast another spell to listen in on Lightray. If only to know when he's finished.

Night Marshal nods. "However you want to deal with this."

Radical nods. "You might not need to wait entirely until he's done. Just...look for a good pause in what he's doing."

Lightray stops at a raised gravestone that is well tended. He kneels next tot eh grave and removes some dead flowers from a holder set in the ground. If one were close enough or were listening in via some means, one might hear him say, "Yes, I know you think this is waste of good money, Jamie. But while we both went through the Depression, I was the spoiled rich boy. Let's continue to humor me, shall we?"

HE sets the dead bouquet aside and slips the fresh burst of red and white roses into the holder. "I'm certain you overheard me talking to Phyllis about the class. You always did eavesdrop." His tone is sad and fond at the same time.

Grimm nods to both of them. "Alright. We'll wait for a good pause. I'm listening from the shadows for one now." She also senses about in the lower astral for signs of Night Hound or other spirits.

A few spirits are about. It is an old and storied cemetery after all, if, other than when someone meddles, rather quite in its paranormal history. You see the spirit of child playing hopscotch over in a far corner. A young man, alternately dressed in a crisp uniform and bloodstained fatigues, with a bit of blank expression staring down at a grave nearer the old part of the cemetery. And you see the Night Hound raise his hand from that spirit's shoulder and glance you way as he look over. He nods as he goes back to speaking with the young soldier dressed in the old style uniform.

At the gravestone, Artemis hears Lightray just talking about his last week as he slowly arranges the flowers. It seems almost like a ritual for him.

She notes the Night Hound looking over from time to time at the glowing figure.

Grimm chews her lower lip as she glances around. "Sure is busy tonight," she murmurs to herself, forgetting at least Night Marshal can't see the spirits she does. "Sorry, guys. Still waiting for a good time to interrupt." She is seen glancing over from time to time toward the older part of the cemetery as she watches Night Hound watching Lightray, trying to figure out what the deal is.

Night Marshal nods. "No worries. It's fine."

Connor is quiet. He just remains attentive, looking around. He may not be able to see the spirits either. Well, his dimensional sight MIGHT allow him to see them if he knew to look.

The Night Hound leans down to speak to the young soldier who, after a moment, nods. The young man trudges over towards the child playing calling out, "Anna-Marie! Let's go back to the house! See if one of the kids'll put on a movie!"

"Yay! I do love those moving pictures," shouts girl with glee, flying over, literally, to the young soldier.

They wend their way through the cemetery and out into Old Town.

In the meantime, Grimm's lost sight of the Night Hound.

Grimm is puzzled as Night Hound leaves. "Where's he going? He was the one who suggested we talk to Lightray about this," she sighs, commenting enigmatically as she watches thin air. "Okay, this may be a good pause to talk to him now."

"Or perhaps I just wished to get closer, Ms Grimm," says a voice behind Grimm.

Grimm jumps a little and looks behind her.

The Night Hound stands about five feet back, just lighting up a cigarette and blowing out the spectral smoke.

Grimm sighs in relief. "I thought I saw you leave." She explains to the others, "Night Hound's here." She looks back to Night Hound. "We were about to approach Lightray to discuss this curse."

Night Marshal turns and tips his hat to Night Hound. "Howdy."

Radical is a little more jumpy, but he waves.

"Ah, I see," says Night Hound as he takes another long draw. "I'll wait here then. No need to confuse him more," he adds as he lets it out.

Lightray nods to both Night Marshal and Radical in greeting as well.

Grimm furrows her brow at Night Hound, and restrains a smile at how well Night Marshal is handling things. "Okay. Any advice on this curse before we go asking him? I know you said it'd make him act funny. Any details would help."

"He may go blank as you talk about it. Or he may respond in what seem like an odd way. No violence, just like someone unable to give up a, hah, delusion. He doesn't know he's cursed after all. And the curse keeps him from knowing. Or so it seems to me," says Night Hound. "I can see the chains of it on him, but then, I see it with, hah, dead man's eyes."

Radical nods slowly. "If the curse keeps him from knowing...or realizing...that would not be a surprising result."

Night Marshal blinks,a nd looks over toward Lightray, and then back to Grimm, "It's possible he requested whatever this curse was to be laid on him, you know. To...cut himself off from something on purpose."

Grimm looks over to Night Marshal in surprise. "I...hand't thought of that. Why would someone do that?" And then the answer hits her after the words leave her mouth.

Night Marshal shrugs, "No idea. But people will go to extraordinary lengths to forget, sometimes."

Night Hound regards Grimm and huffs a laugh. "You look as if you're in a bathtub and about to say 'Eureka!', Ms Grimm. Care to share with the rest of us mere...heh, mortals."

Grimm coughs briefly at the bathtub comment. "I wish. A bathtub would be way nicer than out in a cold cemetery. Night Marshal has a point. Some people would rather forget something traumatic. But...a black magic curse? From a servent of a sun god? I suppose...if it's really bad, we could always try to reapply the curse. If that's what he wants."

Radical nods. "I guess? I wouldn't be able to reapply it, at least with what I know, magic-wise."

Night Hound smiles slightly under the shadow of his fedora. "And I'm a dead man of mystery, not a mage, fortunately."

At the grave, Lightray puts his hand on gravestone and says, "I miss you, Jamie. I could really use your advice in this new world." He pauses. "I think both you'd love it and hate it."

Grimm asks Night Hound as she jerks a thumb that way, "Who's grave is that?" She looks to Radical. "I...might. It wouldn't be a black magic curse, but...I've done some memory work at Starguard. I might be able to help with it that way."

The Night Hound takes a long draw of his cigarette, then drops it, and snuffs it out. It fades from existence as he does so. "That is the grave of James Patrick McMasters. DA of Colonial Bay from 1968 through 1988."

"He died in 1992 from pneumonia brought on from his, hidden from the public, positive HIV status," adds the Night Hound. "He had no family but was interred by friends and was well regarded by his professional colleagues. His deceased best friend's wife delivered the eulogy."

"Oh. That's...sad," Gabrielle says softly. She glances in Lightray's direction. "Might be a good time for us to head over."

Night Marshal nods. "I know the name. From what I read, he was a decent guy. Silver Star recipient. Lifelong bachelor. Patron of libraries and schools. Left his money for a scholarship." He has some idea of what the cause of death might mean for sexual orientation, given the time period, too. But that's neither here nor there at the moment.

Grimm looks to Night Marshal, surprised and admiring his insight. "Wow. Sounds like a good guy. It sounds like he and Lightray were close." She begins walking in Lightray's direction.

Night Marshal nods. "I'm...sure they were.

Lightray looks over as the trio of heroes approaches. He seems surprised, but not upset, as he stands. "Greetings," he murmurs with a smile. "Is something wrong? Do you all need aid with something?"

Both Radical and Night Marshal follow Grimm, but let her take the lead.

Grimm waves. "Sorry to interrupt you. Actually, we're here to help repay you for your help cleansing that cursed cave. And maybe get some advice."

The inner sunlit Lightray laughs softly. "I don't need to be repaid for that, Ms Grimm. It's, well, it needed to be done, but thank you for the thought." He then adds, "And what can I help you with now?"

Grimm looks to Radical and Night Marshal. She might have an idea, but sees if they have anything to say.

Radical shrugs, "Go ahead and explain, Grimm."

Grimm looks to Lightray and recalls what Night Hound warned them. "Well, we ran into someone who has a black magic curse. It's magic from before our time. It seems to prevent the victim from realizing they're cursed and prevents them from seeing or realizing something. I figured you've been around a while, you might know of some magical villains capable of that sort of thing?"

Night Marshal raises a brow at Grimm's oblique way of asking the question, but he doesn't' comment.

"Well, none of the well intentioned extremists, like, apologies to you Radical, like followers of Order or Chaos, or really the hardcore Artifice and Nature servitors. Curses are not really their style," says Lightray after a moment. "Something like you describe sounds like sympathetic magick, so witchcraft and black magick both come to mind given their common use of both that linkage style and curses in general. Could also be theurgy, god based magicks. If it's blocking the person affected, then, well, something from that person likely blood, sweat, or, hmm, call it birds-pit, is likely binding the spell. The intimate link to someone would allow a 'blindness' to the effect. Really, you should ask someone who knows more about magick. I'm a skilled researcher, but not a mage myself."

Grimm nods. "I was hoping you knew someone who used a method like that. I've studied the curse myself and know it's black magic at least. I think I can even undo it. But...what if someone asked for it to be done to them on purpose?"

"I cannot imagine anyone doing something like that. Well, yes, I can, but only if they're wanting to block out memories perhaps. Some great horror or pain. But, it's an extreme solution. Easier to find ways to simply remove a memory. And that way, no sign of a curse, to be perceived. You only hide a cruse if it's ongoing. Otherwise, why hide it?" muses Lightray. "Do you know what the curse is hiding from the person?"

Radical furrows his brow. "It...is hiding the 'true heart's desire' from the person in question. And the spell is necromantic. Ancient. Sumerian, I think?"

Lightray blinks then says, "That sounds like Ana-rata. But, who..." His expression becomes confused for a moment then clears. "But that would be waste of her power. Why would she do such a thing. Maybe someone who learned of her?"

Night Hound lets out a bark of dark laughter as he watches from a distance. He shakes his head.

Grimm's jaw drops at the mention of Ana-rata. "That...may be some powerful magic. I'm not even sure I can unravel it. But...I think it should be done." She looks to Radical and nods. She discussed with him about the potential spells they could use. She starts to invoke dark qliphothic powers to unravel the curse.

Lightray takes a step back as Grimm starts to cast. "What are you doing, Ms Grimm?" he says in a concerned tone. The sunlit glows stronger around his body.

"Just practicing a spell that might work against something like that. I thought maybe you or Radical could tell me if this is the right spell," Gabrielle lies while focused on the magic.

Night Marshal frowns slightly at the deception. Lightray seems like a decent sort. But he doesn't say anything to interrupt.

Radical nods to himself, and says to Lightray, "What can you tell me about Ana-rata? I'm afraid I only know a little."

"All I can tell is that that magick is...wrong, Ms Grimm. It's against..." Lightray's voice trails off as his expression slackens again.

A voice whispers on the air. "Such a power to bring to break my curse," says a woman's voice rich with whiskey tones. "Would you break Reality to free him?"

To those with mystical senses, you can sense a clairvoyance effect and a long range Images (for the voice)effect

Radical tilts his head, "How would it break reality?"

"Even I do not deal with the Destroyers. Yes, one of you does. That power can break Reality. Is this dead man worth that risk?" murmurs the voice.

Grimm is shocked as her veiling magic is pierced, but...that is a lot of power. "It's a bluff..." she mutters stubbornly, still amassing dark powers that collect around her hands. Small, dark tendrils writhe and squirm at the fringes.

"Perhaps. But, consider: I still have his blood. So, breaking my curse is but giving him a taste that will then be taken from him again. Unless..." murmurs the voice.

Radical raises a brow. "This could be undone with the magic of Order, if that would be preferable?"

Grimm hesitates in gathering more energy for the spell. She's got a seed of doubt on this.

"Order is of this Reality. It is no threat to the dead, so, yes, preferable. But still, only a delay in my revenge on Lightray," states the voice. "But, he can be free of the curse, forever...for a price."

Radical nods slowly. "Revenge for what? And what would the price be to end it permanently?"

"If I cannot have my heart's desire neither can the Seal Bearer of Utu-Shamash. Let him wail in the darkness as I do." states the voice. "And for freedom from his punishment? A set of bones that should have come into my hands."

Grimm lets the energy she gathered disperse, panting from the effort of gathering it and holding it back. She even broke out in a sweat from the effort.

Radical nods slowly. "Is he the cause of you not having your heart's desire? What did he do to you...exactly?"

Night Marshal remains quiet, as this quickly has gotten over his head a bit.

"He imprisoned me in the sea, human. And his companions and he stopped me from bringing back my love love. So, I took his perceptions of his from him. He could seek through all Eternity and never see what stands in front of him!" says the voice raising to a near shout at the end. There is a ragged breath.

She then continues in a calm tone, "Bring me the bones and I will lift the Deal Bearer's curse, forever."

The Night Hound says firmly, "Don't do it. WHile she'll keep her word, Lightray wouldn't want it."

Radical grimaces. "He will for a time. This can be discussed with him while he is awake enough." He brings up his hand, which starts to glow white...and he attempts to unweave the magic to restore the patterns underneath.

Grimm mentally speaks to Radical << This entity...do you think you can 'see' where they are?>> She looks to Night Hound. "Are you sure...?"

Lightray's expression is blank as Ana-rata, if that's who it is, speaks. He seems unaware of what's going on.

The voice lets out a sigh. "Foolish and useless, mortals. Let the puppet of Utu-Shamash's see for a time. The curse will fall again when the night rises and my will prevails!" She adds in a whisper. "My offer stands. Give me the bones. Speak at a crossroad."

"No, I;m not sure. But, I think its what he'd want, Ms Grimm," says the Night Hound. "He was always nobler than I."

Radical shakes his head, "Resistance is not useless in the face of a bully." He continues to cast his spell, realizing this is clearly an old...and powerful spell.

Grimm can feel the sense of presence of Ana-rata's clairvoyance fade away.

Grimm smiles faintly at Night Hound's comment. "Hah. Funny. I think the same of my associates," she casts a glance to Night Marshal and Radical. Knowing she's at least somewhat veiled by her spell, she flips off the sky once the clairvoyance spell has faded. "Definitely nobler than me."

Radical continues to cast, and he looks back to Grimm, "It would be nice to not have to do this multiple times, I have to admit."

The curse almost seems to fight back against being broken. If it was a snake, it'd be hissing and striking. As it is, the curse is sunk bone deep into Lightray's mind, body, and spirit.

Grimm nods to Radical as he casts, knowing it takes some energy to break such a powerful curse. She walks over to him to lend support if he needs it. "He gets a day. If it were me, I'd say that'd be worth it." She can't help but glance Night Marshal's way, but she breaks contact before she lingers too long and looks to Lightray. "Maybe we can figure a more permanent solution...later."

Radical continues to cast his spell of Order, taking nearly 20 seconds to get it up to full power. "I don't know if I can undo this. It might be beyond me..."

And then, it finally unravels...and the spirit of a child at its heart smiles beatifically as it flies free to what lies beyond this world.

Night Marshal gives Grimm a wink, but he remains alert. Just in case.

Grimm smiles to herself as she senses the wink, then looks to Lightray. "All that matters is you tried, Radical. And...I think...succeeding." Her eyes widen at the sight of what is bound into the spell and watches the child's spirit cross over. Her hands ball into fists and her eyes narrow as she fights back tears. "It took a child's soul to power that curse...?" she asks through grit teeth.

Radical furrows his brow as he watches. "Maybe? I...hmm. But it does look like it worked."

Radical says, "I suggest talking to Lightray about all of this."

Lightray blinks then says, "I apologize I seem to have, well, I guess daydreamed, but about what I don't know. What were we..." As he spoke his eyes trailed over all of you then to the more distant figure of the Night Hound. He stops dead still mid-word.

"...Jamie?..." he says in choked, hopeful voice.

Grimm nods to Radical. "Give him a moment, first." She steps out of Lightray's way to Night Hound to step alongside Night Marshal and watch the reunion.

Night Marshal nods slowly to himself. At least this part, he was quick to pick up on.

Radical nods, and also gets out of the way.

Night Hound walks over towards Lightray stepping through a tombstone on the way. He comes to a halt a few feet away. "Hello, mo gra. It's good that you can see me. I've been waiting." He smiles widely. "You're always late." He reaches out a hand to try to cup Lightray's cheek in one hand, but, alas, he cannot.

Lightray, for his part, seems stunned. He finally reaches out for Night Hound as well, his wings sweeping forward. "Oh...I can feel you in my wings, Jamie. You're real. I'm not insane." He chokes as he says, "I;ve missed you more than life. I'm sorry I left you alone."

Grimm sniffs a little at the teary reunion. While standing alongside Night Marshal, she lets her hand lightly brush against his while wiping at her eyes with the other hand.

Night Marshal actually takes Grimm's hand, but tries to be subtle about it.

Radical doesn't notice. He watches Lightray and Night Hound briefly, and he steps a bit further away, to try to give a little more privacy.

The two dead lovers, one a spirit, the other physical, just stand and look at each other for a very long moment. The Night Hounds starts tracing Lightray's tendril-like wings, which apparently Lightray can feel. The tall sun infused man stands taller than Night Hound and leans down to speak, "Why are you still here?"

Grimm smiles softly and remains quiet for the moment. She's definitely become secretly sappy lately. She gives Night Marshal's hand a discrete little squeeze. It also must be dusty, since she wipes at her eyes with her other hand.

Night Marshal holds Grimm's hand for a bit, as long as he can be subtle about it. He gives her hand a squeeze, and then lets go.

"Well, it's a funny story," says the Night Hound, his hann caressing what one might assume is the edge of Lightray's wings. "I was made an offer by someone and took it. Was told I'd find you again if I did."

Lightray nods along, his brow creasing, A faint, hopeful, exasperated smile grows on his lips. "What did you do, Jamie?"

Grimm releases his hand when he lets go, knowing he already took a risk to offer her that. She looks surprised by the mention of an offer. She didn't know that. She bites her tongue to stop from asking who.

Radical, for his part, just remains on his own a little further away. The spell casting was more tiring that he thought it was going to be, so he's catching his breath.

To keep up Night Marshal's secret, Grimm steps over to Radical and offers a wordless hand on his shoulder as she looks at him meaningfully. And since she's mindlinked, that looks is secretly a conversation that doesn't interrupt the two reunited lovers. << That was amazing. You did a really great thing. Even if it's just temporary for now.>>

"Lotus came to me when I was, when I was dying, Joseph. She'd retired years before from heroing, you kno...well, you don't but she did. She asked if I wanted to wait to see you again. Said she cast the stones and seen you'd return." He smiles faintly. "HOw could I pass up a sore thing?...Took you long enough to get back here, mo gra."

Lightray leans his head forward to try, it seems, touch their foreheads. "Idiot," he murmurs fondly and exasperatedly. "What if she was wrong?

"Do you remember Lotus, Joseph? She was /never/ wrong about us. Drove me nuts her pushing us together," says the Hight Hound. "Always though she knew what was best for us." He then laughs. "I owe her for being so persistent."

Lightray nod silently.

Radical nods to Grimm, << That was at the edge my ability. The next one might be stronger. >>

Grimm nods silently. << Probably. I think in the long term, we have to find a way to get Lightray's blood back from Ana-rata. That...uhhh. May not be so easy. I know what she wants in exchange, and it's something she can't have.>>

"We both do, scrapper, we both do," agrees Lightray. He then asks, "She made you earthbound then? Should...should I set you fre.."

Lightray's interrupted by the Night Hound, "I'll kick you ass if you try, mo gra! I just finally got you to see me again! I'm not leaving until you do!" His tone is fierce and sounds a bit more Brooklyn than CB right now.

"I don't want you trapped, Jamie! I couldn't stand that!" replies Lightray, but he subsides after another glare from Night Hound. "Fine, fine...We'll talk about it later then."

Night Hound nods. "Yes, we will. Jesus, Mary, and you, I wish could touch you more, mo gra," mutters Night Hound. "I've missed you so much."

Grimm thinks now is the time to interrupt. "Well...maybe we can help with some of those things," she finally speaks up politely.

Both Lightray and Night Hound startle slightly at Grimm's voice then turn to face her. Lightray starts to step aside from Night Hound, to put a little space between then, but Night Hound reaches out, tugs on one's of Lightray's tendril-like wings and Lightray stays close.

Lightray's eyes blinks rapidly for a moment as if clearing non-existent tears then he says, "Apologies. We haven't seen each other in a while," which gets a chuckle from Night Hound.

Night Marshal waves him off. "No need to apologize. We all understand."

Grimm smiles at the cute tug Night Hound gives. "I figured. Night Hound's helped me about here and there. Here on earth and there on the astral on occasion. It's fine, y'know."

"Well, we've over a hundred yeas to catch up on," murmurs Night Hound. "OF course, some of us were working during that time while others were resting on their fluffy clouds," he says with a sideways glance at Lightray.

5rLightray sighs softly. "I'm going to be hearing variations on that from now on, aren't I, Jamie?"

"Yep, been practicing," states Night Hound.

Grimm chuckles, even though she's reminded of how brief this is. "Well...we want to give you two as much time as possible to have together, but...there's some things we need to talk about that're a bit too urgent to delay."

Radical nods. "Nightfall will cause the curse to come back, if I understand correctly."

"So Ana-rata said, yes," states Night Hound. "But I'd don't think she's her word's reliable."

Lightray just listens, his gaze shifting to each of you in turn.

Grimm explains a little further, "Ana-rata is after something she can't be allowed to possess. She wants it, and in exchange, she'll lift the curse that's prevented you from seeing Night Hound. She apparently has some of your, uh, blood? If you know where she'd keep something like that, maybe we can get it back so she can't curse you again."

Radical nods. "The curse kept you from seeing Jamie. It's in revenge for you...keeping her from her true love? I'm not sure entirely about the full details there. And what she wants is some...bones that were supposed to be given to her? I'm not sure what that is about, either."

"I assumed Ana-rata was still trapped under the sea, Ms Grimm," says Night Hound. "In the past, she preferred catacombs and ruins. Probably because she has materials to work with there for her necromancy."

"When I last fought here along with some others, Ana-rata was based out in one of the ancient underground cities in Turkey," adds Lightray. "I don't know about any bones, Radical. And, yes, I suppose from her point of view we're keeping her from resurrecting her 'true love'. But then, Ana-rata needs to sacrifice dozens or hundreds to return him to existence. I cannot help but object to that." He adds after a moment, "I can understand her pain, but, her actions to return Takofanes to her are beyond the pale. Even the gods felt so."

Grimm shakes her head. "She escaped somehow. I found out from Titan and some other heroes who were trying to trade the bones for gold." She thinks for a moment. "Unless...she's still there and somehow influencing the world from afar. She sent the Highwayman for he bones and hasn't come herself..."

"She's a Queen and the child of gods, Ms Grimm," says LIghtray. "She uses servants and catspaws early on. She is beneath directly fighting." He smiles slightly. "Hubris is not just a trait of heroes in myth after all."

Night Hound says, "You reversed those, Joseph: She's /above' fighting directly.:

Radical lets out a long, low, whistle. "If she wants to bring back Takofanes, avoiding that sounds like a good plan."

Grimm looks to Radical. "Takofanes? Who's that?"

Radical furrows his brow as he thinks about it. "A...wizard king, from about...sixty thousand years ago, if I'm not mistaken? On some planes, he was a lich? I might have the details wrong. But the name is associated with death and destruction. Subjugation of everyone."

Radical focuses as he thinks, "I remember reading more than one story about him. They end with some variant on: 'And if he returns the Time fo the Living shall end, and Death shall reign supreme! Never let him return!'"

"Is that when he's from? Then, how did Ana-rata meet and fall in love with him? He's the one who, according to the true stories, bent her to evil," says Lightray. "He came from the East is all the stories say. And then the Gods, when they met him, struck him down."

"Ana-rata waxes into bad poetry about her love for him," states Night Hound. "How they'll rule the world together and cast down the gods. She that's sort of gal."

Grimm blinks at the explanation on Takofanes. "Talk about toxic love. Yeesh."

Radical nods slowly. "Okay, so that's cleared up. I wonder if the bones are his, then?" He shakes his head, "Anyway...it's clear that giving her the bones is a bad idea."

Grimm shakes her head. "No. The bones belong to...hmm. An Atlantean? Or someone from that era. Like Night Hound here, their spirit is still here and we can talk to him. Sort of. I'd like to know more about why his bones are so special, but he didn't want to talk about it. Maybe because it was public and there were a lot of people around."

Lightray looks over at Grimm. "Bones of an Atlantean wizard? Is this a runed skull, Ms Grimm? Is that what she's seeking: The Archmage's Skull? That's a legendary source of lost magickal lore!"

Grimm nods to Lightray. "Yeah, uh...it is. I've never heard of it being called that before, though."

Radical nods slowly. "If it's the Archmage's bones...hmm. The spirit is said to still be connected to them, and it knows a lot of lost magic lore and secrets. Supposedly, there's a price for its knowledge. Or alternatively, the spirit refuses to speak to those unworthy. The stories differ."

Night Marshal remains quiet, just listening to the discussion, and taking everything in.

"I thought that it was just a legend," says Lightray. "You've seen it, Ms Grimm? Does it.."

"Joseph, focus, this isn't about the skull. I know your inner professor wants to know, but later, OK?" suggests Night Hound.

"Right, yes, of course," agrees Lightray. "We'll talk later about it, Ms Grimm. But, by no means should she get it."

Grimm smiles to Lightray. "We can talk to you about it later. You should have as much time with...ah..Jamie as you can. Umm...but tomorrow night, you won't being able to see him anymore. I'm not sure if it means you'll forget about all this, but the spell seemed to affect your mind, too. Sort of like...causing mental blocks. Maybe we need some way to convince you to help that will work around the curse?"

Grimm mutters under her breath at the mention of a price for knowledge, "...maybe some Steam cards will be acceptable."

Radical nods. "I was able to dispel the curse, albeit temporarily."

"Well, do I just forget about seeing Jamie? Or did I forget about Ana-rata as well?" He looks over at Night Hound. "How long have I been not seeing you?"

"Since you returned, Joseph. I was in your mausoleum when you arose. You looked right through me and couldn't;'t hear me," says Night Hound. "It...that was hard. But, I watched you. Spoke to those who could see me about you. Well, obliquely, usually."

Radical nods slowly. "You certainly knew the name Ana-rata before I removed the curse. And you clearly dont' forget about Jamie entirely. I think you were putting flowers at his grave site?"

Radical says, "But you can't see or hear him."

Grimm thinks on that. "So...maybe you'll remember this, I hope."

"I do every week. On his and on the mausoleum for Phylis and the children. I...do it so I don't forget them," Lightray says.

"That seems like too kind an action for Ana-rata. Why give us hope, Ms Grimm," murmurs Night Hound. He reaches out and rubs Lightray's wing end.

Lightray shifts his wings as if trying to maintain contact. "Well, if you limit yourself to not mentioning Jamie, well, perhaps I can help then."

Radical nods. "I liked Grimm's idea from earlier. Perhaps we can recover the drop of blood used to power the spell, and thereby end the curse permanently.

Grimm sighs softly. "I'm not usually the cheerful kind, but...there's still hope. Even if he does forget, I can't believe it'll be forever. We'll...we'll figure something out!" she says with determination for love to when the day. She accidentally mentally broadcasts to Radical as she thinks in shock << Oh my god, who am I even? This is Jack's fault!>>

"That would be ideal. Since it appears she powers it with a child's soul," states Night Hound in a grim voice. "Why didn't your gods just kill her, Joseph when they had the chance? Why let a monster like this survive?"

"I do not know, Jamie. I was not there and all Utu-Shamash ever says is that he mourns the loss of his niece. To them, I think, she is dead. She is no longer truly a god and in the end, I think only oblivion awaits her.

"Yes, we should get my blood back," murmurs Lightray. "If for no other reason than because It'd be nice to have blood again. Well, my blood. I don't think what rests in my body is actually mine."

Radical nods. "So, the question is...how do we find where it is?"

Grimm nods. "Well...at least hopefully you'l be able to respond to questions about Ana-rata. And give us idea of where these underground Turkey caves are."

Grimm subtly glances Night Marshal's way with a look of apology.

Night Marshal just nods to Grimm, not saying anything.

"She'll want a secure location, either in the midst of or near dead bodies," states Night Hound. "I;ve been told her lairs are always of some mystical importance. No necessarily well known. I can't feel that sort of thing myself. But I know Lightray and I suspect, you Ms Grimm and Radical, can, right"

Lightray says, "Oh, the caves are well known now. Tour groups go there."

Radical nods. "I can sense magic, at least. I suspect Grimm might be able to find the spot more easily than I can, though."

Grimm looks back to Lightray and nods. "Okay. Is there a name for them?" She looks to Radical. "Anything else you can think of before we try and talk to the skull? So we can let them enjoy the time they have?"

"She was in Cappadocia. In the city of Kaymakli to be precise," adds Lightray.

"The others cleared up all signs of her presence while Lightray flew Ana-rata out to sea to hold her. It was meant as a stopgap until they could repair her sarcophagus to hold her," adds Night Hound. "But then, well, things happened. Jospeh dying meant we didn't know her exact location in the Marianas Trench and none of us had the powers to explore there for her."

Radical blinks. "The Marianas Trench? It's...going to be pretty tough for us to get there."

Grimm blinks at that. "Yeah. I mean, I know magic can do a lot of things, but I don't think we could survive down there even if we got there. Maybe Starguard has some sort of vessel? Though I doubt I'd get cleared to use it."

"If she is active in the world, she is not there, Radical. Sea water binds and limits Ana-rata. She cannot abide it and stays away from the seas," says Lightray.

Radical nods to Lightray, "So, the question is...where is she? Where in the World is Ana-Rata?"

Grimm nods at that and gets a thought. She looks over to Night Marshal and grins. "Water guns."

Grimm snaps a look at Radical and snorts.

Night Hound says as an aside, "When we need it, I know where Ana-rata's sarcophagus is. Since I put it where it is."

Night Marshal chuckles. "I'm not sure water guns would be enough water, right?"

Grimm shrugs at Night Marshal. "I mean...maybe just sea water bothers her? Get one of those big super soakers?" she says playfully.

"Well, they might irritate her, but, wouldn't take her down, unless you a seawater cannon, I suppose," muses Night Hound.

"One benefit of fighting Ana-rata is that she does not 'employ' the living; only the undead and demons. So, fire at will!" says Night Hound. He then grimaces. "Though, irritatingly, some of her more powerful servants are always ghosts of various sorts."

Grimm nods. "Okay. I won't feel so bad unleashing on them. I guess maybe the skull will help with answers finding her? And we can find out about her sarcophagus later...to make sure it's still where it's supposed to be."