Author: Porthyrius, Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 10:00 AM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

"I think Iva will settle down a bit once the baby comes. She already is incredibly attentive to him, despite Angela only being three months along," Drae replied. "But as far as being the strong father figure they need, I can only promise to do my best. I'm not a good man, by any means, but I will do my best to look after them. I have a lot to atone for, and being with them makes me feel like I am making up for some of my past wrongs," he said softly. 

He looked at the spirit who wished only to see his child grow up, and wanted her to meet his parents. 

"All right, Rohan… I think I can do that for you. I'll speak to Angela in the morning about taking Iva to Adeluna. I don't foresee a problem with it. And where it is in Canelux, Angela will have a strong presence there should anything go amiss," he promised. 

"Also… if you don't mind, I'd like to make it so that I can come back to talk to you about Iva. I would be the only one able to see or hear you… but if you ever had concerns at least someone would be able to hear them," the warlock said. He moved over to the statue and with the bit of chalk etched two runes into an obscure spot where they would not be see by prying eyes. 

"That should do it."

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 7:53 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

Rohan shook his head. “It isn’t a matter of how fast one learns, but how much time one has to learn it. How important the matter is coupled with that makes you learn fast how everyone is. I didn’t have time to just lounge and hope I learned. I went after it and I took it, at least the best I could.”  Shaking his head once more the man smiled. “If circumstances in our lives were the same, I’m sure you could be. Each life story makes us different. You are no different.”

A deep sigh left his lips as he felt happiness for the first time in a while. “Good, Iva needs a lot of love. As much as Angela is a good mother, she is a busy woman. Iva runs mad around here, doing what she wants. She needs a strong father figure like yourself to balance her out… Maybe the new baby will help with that as well.”

Thinking about if he should move on, he shrugged. “I want to see Iva grow up, and it isn’t so lonely here. There are lots of spirits about that you can not see. It will just take some time to recover from this talk. It takes me think a lot about what I could have done for my daughter before I died. I leave it with you Adraejen. Please take Iva to meet her grandparents.”

Author: Porthyrius, Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 7:38 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

A several months ago, Drae was pretty certain he would have been the selfish bastard that would have insisted that Angela save his life. Now, perhaps he wouldn't, but the man he had been would have taken the selfish way in a heartbeat. Rohan had certainly been more noble than Drae could have thought possible. 

"In the end, you were only thinking of her and Iva… and you did what I wouldn't have been able to in the first few months of knowing Angela. Even now, I am only beginning to learn these things about her, and you had gained that knowledge in mere weeks," Drae said softly. "You were by far a better man than I could hope to be," he added. On some level, he was grateful that Rohan had passed on. If he had lived, and had married Angela as he said he had intended, Drae would have never had this redemption. 

"I don't plan on letting you down, Rohan. Being with Angela, and Iva, and the other girls as well, has been my saving grace. I will make sure that Iva knows that no matter how the family changes, she will always be loved. I don't know if I can be the guiding hand that they need, but I will try my damnedest to be," he promised. 

"Do you intend to linger on then? To remain here as a silent spirit? Or do you think you will move on?" Drae asked curiously, knowing that it was a viable question for the ghost. 

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 10:21 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

Rohan hopped off the statue and walked around the courtyard. “Do you know how power works Adraejen? Of course, you are powerful yourself. If you let go of your words and suddenly people could doubt you… Wouldn’t that make it easier for people to turn on you?” 

There was pain in his face as he thought about it. “Simply put, if Angela went back on her deal with me… People wouldn’t trust her. They might think she was work or they could come to hurt Iva or the girls. I had to think about someone other than myself… The only thing I had ever done for myself was Iva and even than it was for my mother. Angela was furious when I begged her to end me… Even when I died I watched from the spirit realm. She ignored Iva for hours after I died, I seen what it did to her.”

He seemed more sad now than ever before. “I had broken the Mother’s heart, all because she knew I was right. It doesn’t take a lot for mortals to place distrust in gods and Angela has been working on fixing everything she did wrong in her early years for a long time now. I wasn’t going to let my selfishness ruin the one thing that will ensure our family’s protection. The same with your baby, he depends on Angela’s power for safety. When she isn’t around who protects him? The people who trust in her. Her word matters and when she gives it, she has no choice but to go through with it. It’s because she is a mother that I would not let her go back on it. I only wished for the children to remain safe. Even in her selfish moments, she is a good woman.”

Rohan laughed a bit and shook his head. "Would have asked her to marry me if I wasn't a skeleton by the time I made it here. I never thought the rumors about her were true until I seen it with my own eyes. To ask one of the loveliest ladies to have a child with me, gods it felt good. I knew our child would be beautiful but it broke my heart to know I wouldn't get to know her. That was of course until I found myself on the spirit side of things. I've grown very attached to my daughter but Angela is right, she needs you. She can't keep talking to me as if I can answer her. She needs real guidance, the type you can give her. She calls you Daddy, and while it hurts, I respect that. You can do more for her than I can… All I ask if that you treat her fairly when this baby is born. You have all one hundred children to care for, some of them really old, but I would be concerned with the young ones who need your guidance. They need a man in their lives and unfortunately not a lot of men who seek Angela want to step up to that plate."

Author: Porthyrius, Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 10:11 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

Drae listened intently as Rohan told him of his beginnings, and subsequently his ending. There was not much for him to do, but to listen and nod appropriately. He took note of how the still sickly looking individual held himself, quite proudly when Iva came up, and he was quite interested in hearing about where her name had come from. 

"Why did you insist upon your death then?" Drae asked when Rohan came to the end of his telling. "You knew she could heal you, and you knew then at the end that she would have healed you. Why insist on passing on instead of living on to take care of Iva with Angela?" the warlock asked curiously. "I know for me, if I had had a chance to be with the woman I had once loved, I might have taken it in a heartbeat. Though now, I have no regrets, and I would not rather be anywhere else… why did you choose death instead?"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:49 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

Rohan gave him a small smile. “I am glad that they are such an important part of your life. Once upon a time, it was Sapphire and Angela. I grew close to the little bookworm. Sadly, I only knew her for a little while, like her mother.” There was more sadness to his voice as he coughed to get over the awkwardness of the thought.

“I thank you for that. She is an emotional woman, despite her age sometimes she has a problem with handling it well. Especially when it comes to death of her loved ones.” He was sure that Drae understood what he meant. “Man to man, I can respect that.”

Shifting, he nodded. “Where to begin. My family is from Adeluna. We have a farm just outside the city. I was there working since I was a born. I was the only child born to my mother and father, which was why Iva became so important of an idea to do me when I got sick.” He shook his head and continued. “My mother came down with a fever and found herself unable to be pregnant after I was born. We were sure it was a witch fever, probably from upsetting one in the marketplace.” 

“I worked hard on the farm, but we were poor. We worked ourselves to the born and I could no longer take it by the time I turned fifteen. So, I went and joined the military academy with the goal of becoming a knight. It took me a year but I finally got knighted. I ended up saving a group of healers stranded, it earned me my right. It was good for a while. I worked hard and sent money home. I was told to find a good wife and have lots of babies, something my mother wanted desperately.” Again the hint to Iva.

“My whole life was devoted to making their lives better. That was until… I came down with an illness. It started with night sweats… Moved to pain throughout my body and suddenly I had weight loss. I was nothing but this.” He gestured down to his frail looking body.

“I was stuck on the farm and I couldn’t understand what was going on. I had my whole life ahead of me. Finally I heard a rumor… The Goddess Angela could grant me a child, one last thing I could do for my mother. I knew I wasn’t going to make it another month.” 

Shifting uncomfortable he gave a smile. “Took me two weeks to even make it through her trials. The picture of all the children I could have, it hurt. Going through the crystal field, it hurt to bend. I thought my feet were bleeding, no they were. Angela took care of me when she found me passed out on the floor of her temple. She healed what she could and asked me, a sick man who shouldn’t have come to her, what I wanted… I told her I wanted and I could tell that many men had… lied to her. There was actual hurt in her eyes. That a man would lie to a beautiful woman like that… I told her I at least still had my honor intact.”

“So she granted my request… We made the baby, had to be the first time I had ever had relations with a woman. Had to be damn near broken and dead to do it but I did… I felt terrible but Angela, she didn’t mind. She was a good teacher but the illness, and our deal, kept me from a lot. At first I was just interested solely in the baby but… she has her way about her. It’s her heart that gets to you. Whenever she reads a book to them… or kisses their scratches and cuts when they get hurt. That’s why you fall in love with the real her. Even if she wasn’t a goddess, she has that nature about her.”

He coughed a bit, a blush across his cheeks despite him being a ghost. “Iva was a powerful baby, gods I had never felt magic like her before. I began to ask questions and Angela was about to answer… When I felt her kick for the first time. I was ecstatic. My baby was kicking and moving. She was healthy and I knew that. Despite the pain I poured all of my effort making sure she understood she was loved. I told her stories about Winston, a companion of mine, and the tall tales he would tell. Gods I never thought she would remember those stories but she did!”


He was proud. There was pride in his voice as he spoke. “I held her when she was born. I was so nervous as I had never heard Angela in pain before. She had opted to do everything the mortal way just for me. Gods, it must have hurt her… but Iva had a full head of damn hair when she was born. It was like fire on top of her mother’s flesh. I didn’t think she got anything from me until she opened her little peepers to look about. I knew that’s when I needed to name her Iva. Iva was a story that I had heard growing up.”

“Iva, was the life force of a town. She was the very soul that brought life to it. Her happy demeanor made everyone happy and if she laughed they did as well. Her very presence brought the world to peace. She was life itself… so that’s what I named her. She was the last thing I smelled, kissed, seen, and felt. I don’t regret it. I just regret not being there for her but I have my reasons for telling Angela to let me die…” 

Author: Porthyrius, Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:23 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

Drae chuckled softly at the mention of the nickname he had given Iva. She was an Imp, for certain, albeit an adorable beautiful imp. He shook his head at the pettiness of the spirits and not allowing Rohan to appear as he should have before he became sick. 

"At least your pain has ceased," Drae nodded softly. 

When addressed about his treatment of Angela and Iva, Drae bowed his head, grateful for the approval from the former lover of the woman he loved above all else. "As unexpected as it is, Angela and Iva are by far the most important things that have ever been bestowed upon me," he said softly. "But I will always be here for her," he promised, with a firm nod. 

"I suppose that was the exact reason I asked Angela not to be here tonight. I couldn't be sure how she would react to seeing you, though she offered to summon you herself. I told her that this was going to have to be between just you and me," Drae replied. He considered the request put to him. 

"We can discuss that at the end of all this. In light of it, however, I would ask you start from the beginning. Tell me your story… where did you come from, your family?"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:47 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

“Iva is more than just well… She has turned into a little hellion these last few years.” He was alive with laughter as he thought about it. “Your name for her, Little Imp, it fits a lot. Rohan reached up and stroked his hair. “I see you are uncertain about my appearance. I lived well past my days and well the spirit community doesn’t like that a lot. Ended up staying this way after Angela kept her end of the deal. It’s not so bad, not like it hurts.”

The man’s face lit up a bit at the thought of Angela still holding on but laughed. “It’s probably for Iva if you are worried about it.” He was blissfully unaware that Angela had already explained it. 

He say down on his statue and watched Drae a bit more. “I don’t need you to tell me anything. I have ears.” He tapped his ears. “At first I was a bit worried but you’ve taken a good care of my girls. Especially Angela, she needs a lot of love and care sometimes. Even Immortality has times it fails. As for Iva, I wish I knew how she was a seer, as far I know it’s not something that regularly happens in Rosenite culture. Can you promise me that you will take care of her even when Angela isn’t here?”

There was concern in his voice. “One more thing, a request. This is all I want from you… Can you take Iva to meet my family? I’ve wanted it to happen for a while but obviously I can’t speak to Angela and it wouldn’t be good for her or Iva to see me.” 

The spirit took a breath after that and smiled. “So what do you want to know about me? Ask away, I’m not hiding anything from you.”

Author: Porthyrius, Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:20 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

Drae was not surprised in the least when the spirit of Rohan stepped out from behind his statue and addressed him. He had felt the man's presence for sometime, though he had not been on the visual and audible plane. Now with the help of the ritual Drae had just performed, the spirit of Iva's father could now be seen and heard. 

"I expected no less, to be honest," Drae replied before standing to face Rohan on even ground. He was surprised that even in death the man appeared sickly. "I've felt your presence here for a while. I figured being able to bring you to the material plane wouldn't be too hard," he replied. "Iva is well, as you have seen no doubt. And you are right. I am here to ask about you, though I would be willing to exchange information if you have need to know of me," Drae answered. 

"You know, of course, since you have been observing, that Angela is with child… she wishes to name the child after you. I have only one reservation and that is that I never got to know you as a man. I know that Angela loved and still loves you, and that you are Iva's father, but that is it. I wish to know you better, if we are to name my son after you," Drae told the spirit before him.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:00 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

[Post as Rohan]

He had watched his daughter growing up, and it hurt. Perhaps this was the worst decision that he had ever decided to do, not to make her but to watch her grow up. The child seemed to know he was there but she could not hear me. She was always so cheery and always so brilliantly beautiful like her mother. It was also nice to watch Angela as well. This Drae man appeared to be taking care of her, and she had another child on the way.

Sad eyes watched as Drae entered the courtyard that Angela had made for him. He imagined that the Goddess had known he would stay behind to make sure Iva would always be safe. 

It wasn’t until Drae had begun the rite that Rohan realized what he was doing. Coughing lightly, Rohan made his presence known. He stepped out of the shadows of his statue and gave the man a light smile. “I was wondering what you were doing Adraejen. You’ll have to forgive me for prying on your information… I worry about Iva.”

Rohan was a weak looking man even in death. It appeared at one time he had muscle definition but with the illness that ran his body down he was weak looking. His hair was long and a pale blonde, his eyes however, were just like Iva’s. “I know a lot about you but I imagine this is about me… What do you want to know?”

Author: Porthyrius, Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 4:25 PM, Post Subject: Witching Hour [P]

The early hours between midnight and three bells before dawn were quiet and cool. The faintest breath lightly filled the courtyard that often seemed to see sunlight despite the rest of the shrine being shrouded in the night, and lightly tickled the greenery. While the sun appeared to shine above, so too could be seen the two other celestial eyes, drooped as though fighting off sleep. A soft thud disturbed the serenity of the cool evening, and the soft click of boots upon the stone walk was faintly audible as Drae walked over the stone and glass bridge that took him to the Unbroken Courtyard. In his hands was a black back, and inside the tools required to summon the soul of the one he hoped to converse with this night. 

The half-elf pushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes as he entered the courtyard, his gaze falling upon the memorial statue of the human man that Angela once loved, and from whom she hoped that their son may gain his name. The warlock simply hoped that the spirit of this man would be willing to come forth from the ether to speak with him in this regard. He cleared his throat softly and approached the grave before he knelt and began to pull forth the items from the black bag he carried. 

Seven white candles of varying sizes, a bit of chalk, an incense holder and incense sticks, and the tin cup that frequented the shrine as belonging to Rohan when Iva came to hold tea parties with him. Upon the stones in front of the statue, Drae used the the chalk to draw the necessary circle of protection and summoning that would both summon and contain the spirit he wished to call forth. The seven candles were lit and placed in position, with the tallest in the middle front point of the circle then the next two and so on. Drae placed the cup within the circle as an anchor for the spirit to hold on to before he moved back and settled into his own smaller circle of protection. 

Softly, he began to chant the arcane words that would call forth the spirit he sought.

"Amung ra Amung dei, suwai ah harai pitei setsuai yatuwe yatuwe yatuwe…." As he spoke, the wind whipped up, threatening to put out the candles that had been lit, and it tugged at Drae's clothes and hair, echoing the words that came off his lips as though a hundred voices were whispering the words with him. When his chanting slowly ceased, as did the whispers, and Drae looked upward to the statue, hoping that his petition for Rohan to come forward would be answered.