Order Only: Attention Poppy

[alt_sirius]

Poppy, if you can get to Moddey: We were successful but Fu's injured. Frank and Kingsley got a field dressing on him, enough so he can travel.

We got the shipment of potion but there was something else on the train. Heavily guarded. Resulted in a longer firefight than we anticipated.

Also, there was another car of Muggles being transported to farm country. We let them out and I've stayed behind to help get them to several of Beth's safe houses.

But this ... device - Circe, you could feel the magic emanating off it. Clearly something they didn't want getting into the wrong hands. Fu was so captivated by it that he didn't notice the guard wasn't quite knocked out. I think he'll be all right but we'd all feel more comfortable if a Healer looked him over.

Comments

[alt_gredforge]

Bugger. How was Fu hurt? Will he be okay?

[alt_kingsley]

Some variant of the slicing hex. Bleeding more than usual, and I'm sensing dark magic in the edges of the wound. I suspect it's gonna leave a helluva scar. Regina is NOT going to be happy, because it's on his face. He was lucky, though, because it just missed his eye.

He's oddly cheerful about it, actually. Says it'll make him look like a pirate.

For some reason this pleases him. I told you he was an odd duck.

Poppy, we'd like you to take a look at him as soon as you can break away to do so. Stephen may be able to treat it with potions, but I'd feel better if we could have a Healer examine him.

[alt_bill]

'Device?' What's the thing you found, exactly?

[alt_kingsley]

It's a metal ouroboros. Actually, I think it looks quite a bit like that one that was left at the bottom of the lake at Hogwarts for the Second Task during the Triwizards Champion tournament, judging from the picture I saw in the Prophet. Except more elaborate. The eyes are green gemstones. Maybe even emeralds.

There are a few variations, however: there is a dial right where the loop meets, with some cabalistic symbols on the dial that I don't recognise. But then I didn't take Runes.

We're at the rendezvous point outside the Sanctuary. Fu's been taken in and Stephen's seeing to him, but we're a little doubtful about taking this object inside.

[alt_bill]

You said it was 'heavily guarded.' How many guards? Were there hexes implanted around it as well? That might give us a way to gauge how important it is.

[alt_kingsley]

Hexes, yes, and more than enough guards for everyone. Six or eight. Mac got the honours of taking out the most, but even Fu held his own. Which is why he was sliced up.

[alt_bill]

Wow.

I've no idea what the thing is for. I haven't heard any rumour of it.

[alt_sirius]

Grimmauld's library has a Key of Solomon and a Infrenaverunt Obscuritatis. Remus, do you feel up to taking them to the safe house to see if anything matches?

[alt_kingsley]

Another puzzlement:

The energy. It's stopped.

Now it feels magically inert.

[alt_bill]

I don't like this.

Is there any possibility that there's some kind of magical trace on it, do you think? Not good if MLEs or Unspeakables come swooping down on you. Would it be safer inside the wards, rather than outside? Although I can see why you might not want a possibly cursed object inside, if you don't know what the hell it is, especially since it was so heavily guarded.

Look, do you want me to come there, too, just so we have another wand?

[alt_kingsley]

That may be a good idea.

I'd like to pick your brain about the runes anyway. So sure, feel free to show up. The more the merrier.

[alt_alice]

Please. Yes.

[alt_poppy]

Sirius,

Thank you for calling me quickly. Fu will be fine, I believe, though the severing hex he took has been a challenge to stanch. Of course, nearly as difficult as neutralising a Dark hex was getting the patient to stay still long enough to work on him. Gracious, what an excitable man!

I'd quite forgotten what survival elation looks like: he's been manically veering between congratulating himself for having held his own, babbling at me about the amazing magical gizmo they liberated, boasting to any who'll listen about the guards he hit, and bubbling over with ideas for tools and weapons and armour they could use NEXT time. A battering ram 'powered' by magic, if you please.


Oh for goodness sake. He's bled through the dressing again. Not to worry, though. I am confident we've got ahead of the curse, only, it's quite a nasty one and will take time to fully counter.